Directory listing (autoindex) in Nginx - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to enable directory listing in an Nginx server block.

Nginx

location /files/ {
    [1] on;
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Alisten

Bindex

Croot

Dautoindex

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'index' instead of 'autoindex' disables directory listing.

Using 'root' or 'listen' does not control directory listing.

The autoindex directive enables directory listing in Nginx.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set the directory listing style to 'exact_size' in Nginx.

Nginx

location /downloads/ {
    autoindex on;
    autoindex_format [1];
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aexact_size

Bplain

Chtml

Djson

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'html' shows sizes in human-readable format, not exact bytes.

Using unsupported formats like 'json' or 'plain' causes errors.

The autoindex_format exact_size directive shows file sizes in bytes.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the Nginx config to enable directory listing inside the location block.

Nginx

location /media/ {
    autoindex [1];
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aenable

Btrue

Con

Dyes

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'enable' instead of 'on' causes syntax errors.

Using 'true' or 'yes' is invalid in Nginx configs.

The correct value to enable autoindex is on.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to configure Nginx to serve directory listing with exact file sizes.

Nginx

location /public/ {
    autoindex [1];
    autoindex_format [2];
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aon

Boff

Cexact_size

Dhidden

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Setting autoindex to 'off' disables directory listing.

Using wrong format values causes errors.

Enable autoindex with on, set format to exact_size.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a location block that enables directory listing and sets format to HTML.

Nginx

location /assets/ {
    autoindex [1];
    autoindex_format [2];
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aoff

Bon

Chtml

Dhidden

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Turning autoindex off disables listing.

Using 'exact_size' instead of 'html' changes the size display style.

Enable directory listing with on, set format to html.

Practice

1. What does the autoindex on; directive do in an nginx server block?

easy

A. It enables directory listing so users can see files in a folder via browser.

B. It disables access to all files in the directory.

C. It compresses files before sending to the client.

D. It redirects requests to another server.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of autoindex

   The autoindex directive controls whether nginx shows a list of files in a directory when no index file is found.

2. Step 2: Effect of autoindex on;

   Setting it to on enables directory listing, allowing users to browse files via a web browser.

3. Final Answer:

   It enables directory listing so users can see files in a folder via browser. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   autoindex on = directory listing enabled [OK]

Hint: autoindex on means show files in folder via browser [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking autoindex disables access
• Confusing autoindex with compression
• Assuming autoindex redirects requests

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to enable directory listing in nginx?

easy

A. autoindex enable;

B. autoindex on;

C. autoindex true;

D. autoindex yes;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall nginx directive syntax

   nginx directives use specific keywords; for enabling autoindex, the keyword is on.

2. Step 2: Identify correct keyword

   Only autoindex on; is valid syntax. Others like enable, true, or yes are invalid.

3. Final Answer:

   autoindex on; -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax = autoindex on; [OK]

Hint: Use 'on' to enable autoindex, not 'enable' or 'yes' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'enable' instead of 'on'
• Using 'yes' or 'true' which are invalid
• Missing semicolon at end

3. Given this nginx config snippet inside a server block:

location /files/ {
    autoindex on;
    autoindex_exact_size off;
    autoindex_localtime on;
}

What will the directory listing show regarding file sizes and timestamps?

medium

A. File sizes in human-readable format and timestamps in local time.

B. File sizes in bytes and timestamps in UTC time.

C. File sizes hidden and timestamps not shown.

D. File sizes in human-readable format and timestamps in UTC time.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand autoindex_exact_size off;

   This setting shows file sizes in human-readable format (e.g., KB, MB) instead of bytes.

2. Step 2: Understand autoindex_localtime on;

   This setting shows file timestamps in the server's local time zone, not UTC.

3. Final Answer:

   File sizes in human-readable format and timestamps in local time. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   autoindex_exact_size off + autoindex_localtime on = human sizes + local time [OK]

Hint: Exact size off = human sizes; localtime on = local timestamps [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming sizes always show in bytes
• Thinking timestamps are always UTC
• Confusing off/on meaning for these directives

4. You enabled autoindex on; but directory listing still does not show. Which is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The server block is missing the listen directive.

B. The autoindex directive is misspelled as autoindx.

C. The directory has an index.html file present.

D. The autoindex directive must be inside http block only.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check nginx directory listing behavior

   nginx shows directory listing only if no index file (like index.html) exists in the directory.

2. Step 2: Identify why listing is not shown

   If an index file is present, nginx serves it instead of showing directory listing, even if autoindex on; is set.

3. Final Answer:

   The directory has an index.html file present. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Index file present blocks directory listing [OK]

Hint: Index files override autoindex directory listing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming misspelling causes no effect (it causes error)
• Thinking autoindex must be in http block only
• Ignoring presence of index files

5. You want to allow users to browse files in /var/www/public via nginx with directory listing enabled, showing file sizes in human-readable format and timestamps in local time. Which configuration snippet inside the server block is correct?

hard

A. location /public/ {
root /var/www/public;
autoindex on;
autoindex_exact_size on;
autoindex_localtime off;
}

B. location /public/ {
root /var/www;
autoindex off;
autoindex_exact_size off;
autoindex_localtime on;
}

C. location /public/ {
alias /var/www/public;
autoindex off;
autoindex_exact_size off;
autoindex_localtime on;
}

D. location /public/ {
root /var/www;
autoindex on;
autoindex_exact_size off;
autoindex_localtime on;
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose correct root and enable autoindex

   Using root /var/www; with location /public/ serves files from /var/www/public. autoindex on; enables directory listing.

2. Step 2: Set human-readable sizes and local timestamps

   autoindex_exact_size off; shows sizes in human-readable format, and autoindex_localtime on; shows timestamps in local time.

3. Final Answer:

   location /public/ { root /var/www; autoindex on; autoindex_exact_size off; autoindex_localtime on; } -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct root + autoindex on + human sizes + local time = location /public/ { root /var/www; autoindex on; autoindex_exact_size off; autoindex_localtime on; } [OK]

Hint: Use root with path prefix; autoindex on + exact_size off + localtime on [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using alias incorrectly with root paths
• Turning autoindex off disables listing
• Setting exact_size on shows bytes, not human sizes