Why reverse proxy matters
A reverse proxy allows Nginx to receive public web traffic and forward it to an internal application running on another port, such as a Next.js app on port 3000. This keeps the application behind Nginx and makes it easier to manage domains, SSL, and routing.
Basic checks before enabling Nginx
Before configuring Nginx, confirm that the application is running, the correct port is open locally, and the environment variables are correct. You should also test the app using curl from the server before exposing it through Nginx.
Testing after deployment
After enabling the Nginx configuration, reload Nginx and test the site from a browser. If the page does not load, check the Nginx error logs, confirm the upstream port, and verify that the application process is still running.