Gzip configuration (types, min_length) in Nginx - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the effect of this gzip configuration snippet?

Given this nginx configuration snippet:

gzip on;
gzip_types text/plain application/json;
gzip_min_length 1000;

What happens when a client requests a JSON file of 800 bytes?

Nginx

gzip on;
gzip_types text/plain application/json;
gzip_min_length 1000;

A The JSON file is sent uncompressed because its size is less than the gzip_min_length of 1000 bytes.

B The JSON file is compressed only if the client supports gzip, regardless of size.

C The JSON file is always compressed because gzip is enabled.

D The JSON file is compressed before sending because its type matches and size is over 800 bytes.

💡 Hint

Check the minimum length setting and file size.

The gzip_min_length directive sets the minimum size in bytes for compression. Since 800 bytes is less than 1000, the file is sent uncompressed even if its type matches gzip_types.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Which MIME types will be compressed with this configuration?

Consider this nginx gzip configuration:

gzip on;
gzip_types text/css application/javascript image/svg+xml;

Which of the following file types will be compressed?

Nginx

gzip on;
gzip_types text/css application/javascript image/svg+xml;

A Files with MIME types text/css, application/javascript, and image/svg+xml will be compressed.

B Only text/css and application/javascript files will be compressed; image/svg+xml is ignored.

C All file types will be compressed because gzip is on.

D No files will be compressed because gzip_types is missing text/html.

💡 Hint

gzip_types controls which MIME types are compressed.

The gzip_types directive lists MIME types that nginx compresses. Here, text/css, application/javascript, and image/svg+xml are included, so these types will be compressed.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Why is gzip compression not applied to HTML files despite gzip on?

An nginx server has this configuration:

gzip on;
gzip_types text/css application/javascript;

Clients report HTML files are not compressed. Why?

Nginx

gzip on;
gzip_types text/css application/javascript;

A gzip_min_length is set too high for HTML files.

B HTML files are too small to be compressed by default.

C gzip is off for HTML files by default.

D HTML files are not compressed because text/html is not included in gzip_types.

💡 Hint

Check which MIME types are listed in gzip_types.

By default, nginx only compresses MIME types listed in gzip_types. Since text/html is not included, HTML files are not compressed even if gzip is on.

✅ Best Practice

advanced

What is the recommended minimum gzip_min_length value to avoid compressing very small files?

Which gzip_min_length value is best to avoid wasting CPU compressing tiny files?

A 20 (compress files larger than 20 bytes)

B 1000 (compress files larger than 1000 bytes)

C 100 (compress files larger than 100 bytes)

D 0 (compress all files regardless of size)

💡 Hint

Small files often do not benefit from compression.

Setting gzip_min_length to 1000 bytes or more avoids compressing very small files that do not gain much size reduction but consume CPU.

🔀 Workflow

expert

Order the steps to enable gzip compression for JSON files larger than 500 bytes in nginx

Arrange these steps in the correct order to configure nginx to gzip compress JSON files only if they are larger than 500 bytes.

A 3,1,2,4

B 1,3,2,4

C 1,2,3,4

D 2,1,3,4

💡 Hint

Enable gzip first, then configure types and size, finally reload.

First enable gzip, then specify MIME types to compress, set minimum length, and finally reload nginx to apply.