Nginx · December 19, 2023

Nginx Tip - Use the fastcgi_split_path_info directive for PATH_INFO support

Nginx Tip - Use the fastcgi_split_path_info directive for PATH_INFO support

Nginx is a popular web server that is known for its high performance, scalability, and flexibility. It is commonly used to serve static content, reverse proxy, and load balance web applications. In addition to these features, Nginx also provides support for dynamic content through the use of FastCGI.

When using FastCGI with Nginx, it is important to handle the PATH_INFO variable correctly. PATH_INFO is a part of the URL that follows the script name and is often used by web applications to determine the requested resource. By default, Nginx does not provide built-in support for PATH_INFO, but it can be easily enabled using the fastcgi_split_path_info directive.

What is the fastcgi_split_path_info directive?

The fastcgi_split_path_info directive is used to split the PATH_INFO variable into two parts: the script name and the path info. It takes a regular expression as an argument and uses it to split the PATH_INFO variable. The resulting parts are then stored in the $fastcgi_script_name and $fastcgi_path_info variables, respectively.

Here is an example of how the fastcgi_split_path_info directive can be used:

location ~ ^(.+.php)(/.+)$ {
    fastcgi_split_path_info ^(.+.php)(/.+)$;
    fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
    fastcgi_param PATH_INFO $fastcgi_path_info;
    fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php-fpm.sock;
    include fastcgi_params;
}

In this example, the regular expression ^(.+.php)(/.+)$ is used to split the PATH_INFO variable. The first part of the regular expression (.+.php) matches the script name, while the second part (/.+) matches the path info. The resulting parts are then stored in the $fastcgi_script_name and $fastcgi_path_info variables, respectively.

Why is the fastcgi_split_path_info directive important?

The fastcgi_split_path_info directive is important because it allows web applications to correctly handle URLs that contain path information. Without this directive, the PATH_INFO variable would not be available to the web application, which could lead to incorrect routing and handling of requests.

By enabling the fastcgi_split_path_info directive, web applications can access the PATH_INFO variable and use it to determine the requested resource. This is especially useful for applications that use clean URLs or RESTful routing, where the path info is an integral part of the URL structure.

Conclusion

The fastcgi_split_path_info directive is a powerful feature of Nginx that allows web applications to correctly handle URLs with path information. By enabling this directive, web applications can access the PATH_INFO variable and use it to determine the requested resource. This is especially useful for applications that use clean URLs or RESTful routing.

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