nginx / ngx_http_proxy_module proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size

nginx ngx_http_proxy_module proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size
17 June 2025

Here, we will take a look at the configuration and behavior of the ngx_http_proxy_module module. Nginx is known as a web server and reverse proxy famous for its high performance and low resource consumption. One of the essential features of Nginx is its ability to proxy requests to other servers. This feature is particularly useful for websites that need balanced loading and efficient scaling, making it very practical.

The ngx_http_proxy_module module is present by default in Nginx and helps in processing requests and sending them to other servers. One of the important parameters for this module is proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size. This parameter is used to define the bucket size for proxy headers and can have an impact on Nginx's performance.

If there are many requests or headers being received, it is necessary to correctly configure the proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size. Otherwise, it may happen that the headers are not processed correctly, leading to issues in processing requests.

Here is an example of how to configure proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size in the Nginx configuration file. Before making any changes, be sure to backup your Nginx configuration file.

http {
proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size 128;
server {
location / {
proxy_pass http://backend;
}
}
}

In this configuration, we set the bucket size for proxy headers to 128 and perform proxy actions to another server (here backend).

Code Explanation

http {

Initially, we have the http block which includes configurations related to all HTTP requests.
    proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size 128;

In this line, we set the bucket size for proxy headers to 128 bytes.
    server {

Here, the server block begins, which configures server specifications.
        location / {

This location block is specified for defining specific URLs. Here, all requests from the root (/) are processed.
            proxy_pass http://backend;

In this line, we specify that requests should be sent to the backend server.
        }
}
}

This closes the location block, then the server block, and finally we complete the http block.

FAQ

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When should we increase the value of proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size?

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How can I test Nginx configurations?

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Are the default Nginx configurations sufficient?

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Does increasing proxy_headers_hash_bucket_size improve Nginx performance?