Setting up Laravel for New Projects with Nginx Configuration

Published on July 22, 2022

Are you starting a new project with Laravel and want to optimize your server configuration? Look no further! In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of setting up Laravel with Nginx configuration for optimal performance and security.

What is Laravel?

Laravel is a popular PHP framework known for its elegant syntax and extensive feature set. It provides developers with a robust toolkit for building web applications, making it a top choice for many developers worldwide. With its expressive and intuitive syntax, Laravel simplifies the development process, allowing developers to focus on building great, scalable applications.

Why Use Nginx with Laravel?

Nginx is a high-performance web server that excels in serving static content and handling concurrent requests. When combined with Laravel, Nginx can significantly improve your application's speed and reliability. It offers various features like fast content delivery, load balancing, and advanced caching mechanisms that enhance the overall performance of your Laravel application.

Configuring Nginx for Laravel

To configure Nginx for Laravel, you need to create an Nginx server block or virtual host specifically tailored for your Laravel project. Below is an example of a basic Nginx configuration for Laravel:


      server {
          listen 80;
          server_name example.com;
          root /var/www/laravel/public;

          index index.php index.html index.htm;

          location / {
              try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
          }

          location ~ \.php$ {
              fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.4-fpm.sock;
              fastcgi_index index.php;
              fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
              include fastcgi_params;
          }
      }

In the above example, we specify the server block's listening port (80) and server_name (example.com). Adjust these values based on your server configuration. The root directive defines the Laravel project's public folder as the document root. It ensures that only the necessary files are accessible publicly while keeping sensitive files protected.

We handle the routing of requests using the location block. It tries to find the requested file or directory and, if unsuccessful, passes the request to index.php. This setup allows Laravel to handle all the routing internally, enabling the use of friendly URLs.

Securing Your Laravel Application

When deploying a Laravel project, security should be a top priority. Here are some additional Nginx configuration settings to enhance the security of your Laravel application:


      location ~ /\.(?!well-known).* {
          deny all;
      }

      location ~* /(?:uploads|files)/.*\.php$ {
          deny all;
      }

The first block of code denies access to any dot file (except the well-known directory), preventing unauthorized access to sensitive files like .env. The second block denies access to any PHP script inside the uploads or files directory, protecting against potential code execution vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Optimizing your server configuration is crucial for ensuring the best performance and security for your Laravel projects. By using Nginx, you can take advantage of its powerful features to serve your applications with speed and reliability. Don't forget to implement the additional security measures mentioned in this article for enhanced protection against potential vulnerabilities. Happy coding!