Index directive in Nginx - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to set the default index file to index.html.

Nginx

index [1];

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

Adefault.html

Bindex.html

Chome.html

Dmain.html

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a file name that is not commonly used as an index file.

Forgetting the semicolon at the end.

The index directive specifies the default file served when a directory is requested. index.html is the common default.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set multiple index files: index.php and index.html.

Nginx

index [1] [2];

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

Aindex.php

Bindex.html

Cdefault.php

Dhome.html

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using incorrect file names.

Not separating file names with spaces.

You can specify multiple index files separated by spaces. Nginx will try them in order.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly set the index file to home.html.

Nginx

index [1];

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

Ahome.htm

Bhome.html

Chome.htm;

Dhome.html;

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Omitting the semicolon at the end.

Using wrong file extension.

The index directive must end with a semicolon. Without it, the configuration is invalid.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to set the index files to default.html and index.htm.

Nginx

index [1] [2];

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

Adefault.html

Bindex.html

Cindex.htm

Dhome.html

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up file names or extensions.

Forgetting the semicolon at the end.

You can list multiple index files. Here, default.html is first, then index.htm.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to set the index files to main.php, index.html, and default.htm.

Nginx

index [1] [2] [3];

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

Amain.php

Bindex.html

Cdefault.htm

Dhome.html

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Incorrect file order.

Using wrong file extensions.

Missing semicolon.

You can specify multiple index files in order. Nginx tries each until it finds one.

Practice

1.

What is the main purpose of the index directive in nginx?

easy

A. To specify default files to serve when a directory is requested

B. To set the server's IP address

C. To configure SSL certificates

D. To define error pages

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of the index directive

   The index directive tells nginx which files to look for by default when a user requests a directory URL.

2. Step 2: Match the purpose with the options

   Only To specify default files to serve when a directory is requested describes setting default files to serve in a folder, which matches the index directive's function.

3. Final Answer:

   To specify default files to serve when a directory is requested -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   index directive = default files [OK]

Hint: Index sets default homepage files for folders [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing index with server IP settings
• Thinking index sets error pages
• Mixing index with SSL configuration

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to set index.html and home.html as default files using the index directive?

?

easy

A. index: index.html; home.html;

B. index = index.html, home.html;

C. index { index.html home.html }

D. index index.html home.html;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall nginx index directive syntax

   The correct syntax lists files separated by spaces, ending with a semicolon.

2. Step 2: Compare options with correct syntax

   index index.html home.html; matches the correct syntax: index index.html home.html;. Others use invalid punctuation or braces.

3. Final Answer:

   index index.html home.html; -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax = index index.html home.html; [OK]

Hint: List files with spaces, end with semicolon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using commas between filenames
• Using braces or colons incorrectly
• Adding equal signs in directive

3.

Given this nginx config snippet:

location / {
    index about.html index.html;
}

If the folder contains index.html but not about.html, which file will nginx serve when a user visits /?

medium

A. 404 Not Found error

B. about.html

C. index.html

D. Directory listing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand index file priority

   nginx tries files in order: first about.html, then index.html.

2. Step 2: Check which files exist

   about.html is missing, but index.html exists, so nginx serves index.html.

3. Final Answer:

   index.html -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   First found file served = index.html [OK]

Hint: nginx serves first existing file in index list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming nginx serves first listed file regardless of existence
• Expecting directory listing if first file missing
• Thinking nginx returns error immediately

4.

Identify the error in this nginx config snippet:

location / {
    index index.html, home.html;
}

medium

A. Missing semicolon at the end

B. Using a comma between filenames is invalid syntax

C. index directive cannot be used inside location block

D. File names must be in quotes

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax for index directive

   File names must be separated by spaces, not commas.

2. Step 2: Identify the error in the snippet

   The comma between index.html and home.html is invalid syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   Using a comma between filenames is invalid syntax -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   No commas allowed in index list [OK]

Hint: Separate files with spaces, no commas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding commas between filenames
• Omitting semicolon
• Thinking quotes are required

5.

You want nginx to serve main.html as the default file, but only if index.html is missing. Which index directive correctly achieves this?

hard

A. index index.html main.html;

B. index main.html index.html;

C. index main.html;

D. index index.html;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand index file priority order

   nginx serves the first existing file in the list from left to right.

2. Step 2: Choose order to serve main.html only if index.html missing

   To serve main.html only if index.html is missing, index.html must be first, then main.html.

3. Final Answer:

   index index.html main.html; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   First existing file served = index.html then main.html [OK]

Hint: List index.html first to prefer it over main.html [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Reversing file order
• Listing only one file
• Expecting nginx to skip files in order