NGINX Config Formatter
Format and beautify NGINX configuration files with customizable indentation, directive alignment, and parameter wrapping
Input
Output
Readme
What is NGINX?
NGINX (pronounced "engine-x") is a high-performance web server, reverse proxy, and load balancer used by millions of websites worldwide. Originally created to solve the C10K problem (handling 10,000+ concurrent connections), NGINX has become one of the most popular web servers, powering approximately 30% of all websites on the internet.
NGINX uses configuration files to define how it handles incoming requests, proxies traffic, serves static files, and manages SSL/TLS certificates. These configuration files follow a specific syntax with directives, blocks, and contexts that control every aspect of the server's behavior.
Why does NGINX configuration formatting matter?
NGINX configuration files can quickly become complex as your infrastructure grows. A typical production setup might include multiple server blocks, location directives, upstream definitions, and SSL configurations. Without proper formatting:
- Readability suffers: Nested blocks become difficult to trace, making it harder to understand the request flow
- Errors hide in plain sight: Misaligned directives can mask configuration mistakes that cause unexpected behavior
- Team collaboration becomes painful: Different developers using inconsistent styles creates merge conflicts and confusion
- Debugging takes longer: When an issue occurs, poorly formatted configs slow down troubleshooting
Consistent formatting transforms configuration files from a maintenance burden into clear, scannable documentation of your server architecture.
How does configuration formatting work?
This formatter uses intelligent parsing to understand the structure of your NGINX configuration. It identifies:
- Directives: Commands like
listen,server_name,proxy_pass - Blocks: Contexts enclosed in braces like
server { },location { } - Comments: Lines starting with
#that document your configuration - Parameters: Values and arguments passed to directives
The formatter then applies consistent indentation, aligns related directives, and wraps long parameter lists for optimal readability while preserving the exact semantic meaning of your configuration.
Tool description
The NGINX Config Formatter is an online tool that automatically formats and beautifies your NGINX configuration files. Paste your messy or minified configuration, and instantly receive clean, properly indented output following best practices for NGINX config styling.
The formatter runs entirely in your browser using Prettier with the NGINX plugin, ensuring your sensitive server configurations never leave your machine.
Examples
Before formatting:
server {
listen 443 ssl; listen [::]:443 ssl;
server_name example.com;
location / { proxy_pass http://proxy; proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr; proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
proxy_read_timeout 1000; }
}
After formatting:
server {
listen 443 ssl;
listen [::]:443 ssl;
server_name example.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://proxy;
proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
proxy_read_timeout 1000;
}
}
Features
- Real-time formatting: See results instantly as you type or paste your configuration
- Customizable indentation: Choose between 2, 4, or 8 spaces, or use tabs
- Directive alignment: Optionally align directive values for visual consistency
- Parameter wrapping: Automatically wrap long parameter lists at your specified line width
- Syntax highlighting: Full NGINX syntax highlighting for both input and output
- Client-side processing: Your configuration never leaves your browser for complete privacy
Use cases
- Cleaning up legacy configurations: Format old, inconsistently styled config files inherited from previous team members
- Code review preparation: Ensure your NGINX configs meet team style standards before submitting for review
- Documentation and sharing: Create readable configuration snippets for documentation, tutorials, or Stack Overflow questions
- Debugging assistance: Properly formatted configs make it easier to spot missing braces, misplaced directives, or logical errors
- Learning NGINX: See how properly structured configurations should look when studying NGINX setup examples