DiagramPreview
Basic parserNo AILocal previewExportDebugging

Nginx Location Tester

Paste a target URI and Nginx location blocks to preview which rule wins, why it wins, and how exact, prefix, and regex matching behave.

Examples
Matched location resultReady
The matched location will appear here.

Continue with a related tool

Move this preview into a nearby workflow for conversion, debugging, or export.

AI Diagram Generator

Generate Mermaid diagrams from a natural language prompt with AI.

Open
Mermaid AI Fixer

Fix broken Mermaid syntax and improve diagram readability with AI.

Open
Architecture Diagram Generator

Generate Mermaid architecture diagrams from product or system notes with AI.

Open

How to use

  1. 1Paste a focused source sample instead of a full production dump first.
  2. 2Load a sample to learn the expected format, then replace it with your own source.
  3. 3Review the preview for missing branches, slow requests, invalid selectors, or unclear labels.
  4. 4Copy the source or export the generated artifact when the preview is ready.

Common use cases

Debug AI-generated snippets before committing them to documentation.Turn browser, API, routing, schema, or publishing source into a quick review surface.Create lightweight screenshots for READMEs, issue reports, internal docs, and release notes.

Related tools

AI Diagram Generator

Generate Mermaid diagrams from a natural language prompt with AI.

Mermaid AI Fixer

Fix broken Mermaid syntax and improve diagram readability with AI.

Architecture Diagram Generator

Generate Mermaid architecture diagrams from product or system notes with AI.

FAQ

Does this send my source to an AI service?

No. This tool runs the preview locally in the browser for the supported parser path.

Is the parser a full production compiler?

It focuses on common preview and debugging cases. Keep the original source as the source of truth.

Can I use it with AI-generated output?

Yes. It is designed to catch obvious structure, preview, and routing issues after an AI tool generates text.

Nginx Location Tester is built for developers who need a fast preview surface for scripts, configuration, API artifacts, and visual source formats.

AI tools can generate text, but they often skip the preview loop. This page helps you inspect the generated source before it reaches a README, issue, or production config.

Keep the original source alongside the exported preview so teammates can review both the text and the rendered result.

Demo: test Nginx location precedence

Nginx location matching is subtle. A tester helps explain which exact, prefix, ^~, or regex block handles a URL before the config reaches production.

  • Test real request paths, not only abstract patterns.
  • Compare regex locations with ^~ prefix locations.
  • Check fallback / behavior for single-page apps.
location = /health { return 200; }
location ^~ /assets/ { root /var/www; }
location ~ \.php$ { fastcgi_pass php; }
location / { proxy_pass http://app; }

Debugging checklist: matching is only the first step

Once the matching block is identified, review proxy, rewrite, root, alias, and header behavior inside that block.

  • Check alias vs root for static files.
  • Review rewrite rules that change upstream paths.
  • Confirm proxy headers preserve host and scheme when apps need them.
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;

Review checklist for Nginx Location Tester

Use Nginx Location Tester when you need to inspect source content visually before it becomes documentation, a pull request note, an incident write-up, or a handoff artifact. Test Nginx location precedence for exact, prefix, ^~, and regex routing blocks.

Before exporting, check that labels are readable, relationships match the source, generated examples do not contain private data, and the preview still makes sense after you edit the input.

Limits and troubleshooting

If the preview fails, reduce the input to the smallest complete example, confirm the format syntax, and then add sections back one at a time. Many rendering failures come from partial files, indentation mistakes, missing diagram headers, or copied snippets that depend on hidden context.

Treat the preview as a review surface rather than a source of truth. Generated diagrams, converted files, dashboards, and rule examples should be checked before they are used in production documentation or operations.

Example inputs to test

  • API route: URI: /api/users/42 --- server { location = /health { return 200; } location ^~ /api/ { proxy_pass http://api; } location ~ \.(js|css)$ { root /assets; } location / { try_files $uri...
  • Asset regex: URI: /static/app.css --- server { location /static/ { root /var/www; } location ~* \.(png|jpg|css|js)$ { expires 7d; } location / { proxy_pass http://web; } }
  • SPA fallback: URI: /dashboard/settings --- server { location = /robots.txt { root /public; } location /api/ { proxy_pass http://api; } location / { try_files $uri /index.html; } }

Tool maturity

Basic parser

Basic parser

This tool focuses on fast structure inspection. Use it for review and debugging, then verify critical output before production use.

The maturity label is not a quality score. It tells visitors whether the tool is best for stable export, deeper debugging, quick parsing, or AI-assisted generation.