Nginx Redirect Rule Generator
Generate Nginx redirect rules online for free from a list of URL pairs. Choose between return 301, return 302, rewrite permanent, and rewrite redirect rule types with server or location block context. Download ready-to-deploy Nginx configuration - no signup required.
Enter your redirect pairs - one per line in the format /old-path /new-destination - then choose the rule type and context. Click Generate to produce ready-to-paste Nginx redirect rules.
0 redirect pairs · Supports /from /to, /from -> /to, or /from => /to format
- Use
return 301for permanent redirects (SEO-friendly, cached by browsers) - Use
return 302for temporary redirects (not cached) - Prefer
returnoverrewritefor simple URL redirects - it is faster and simpler - Test your config with
nginx -tbefore reloading - Reload Nginx with
nginx -s reloadafter applying changes
Why Use Our Nginx Redirect Rule Generator?
Instant Nginx Redirect Rule Generation
Generate Nginx redirect rules instantly in your browser. Our nginx redirect rule generator produces ready-to-paste configuration in milliseconds - no waiting, no server, no signup required.
Secure Nginx Redirect Rule Generator Online
All rule generation happens locally in your browser. Your URL pairs and redirect configuration never leave your device, ensuring 100% privacy when you use our nginx redirect rule generator online.
Nginx Redirect Rule Generator Online - No Installation
Use our nginx redirect rule generator directly in your browser with no downloads, plugins, or software required. Generate Nginx redirect rules from any device, any time.
Four Rule Types & Two Contexts
Choose between return 301, return 302, rewrite permanent, and rewrite redirect rule types. Select server block or location block context. Our nginx redirect rule generator produces syntactically correct rules for every combination.
Common Use Cases for Nginx Redirect Rule Generator
Website Migrations & URL Restructuring
DevOps engineers use our nginx redirect rule generator when migrating websites to new URL structures. Paste your old-to-new URL mapping and generate all 301 redirect rules in one click.
SEO-Preserving Redirects
SEO specialists use our nginx redirect rule generator to create 301 permanent redirects that pass link equity to new URLs. Proper Nginx redirects prevent duplicate content penalties and preserve search rankings.
Domain Consolidation
System administrators use our nginx redirect rule generator to redirect traffic from old domains to new ones. Generate return 301 rules for all legacy URLs to consolidate domain authority.
A/B Testing & Campaign Redirects
Marketing teams use our nginx redirect rule generator to create temporary 302 redirects for campaign landing pages and A/B tests. Switch between permanent and temporary rules with a single dropdown.
CMS & Platform Migrations
Developers migrating from WordPress, Drupal, or custom CMSes to new platforms use our nginx redirect rule generator to map old permalink structures to new URL patterns.
Bulk Redirect Management
Web agencies managing multiple client sites use our nginx redirect rule generator to process large redirect lists quickly. Paste hundreds of URL pairs and download a ready-to-deploy .conf file.
Understanding Nginx Redirect Rules
What are Nginx Redirect Rules?
Nginx redirect rules are configuration directives that instruct the Nginx web server to send HTTP redirect responses when a client requests a specific URL. The two primary directives are return and rewrite. A 301 redirect (permanent) tells browsers and search engines that a URL has moved permanently - link equity is transferred and the old URL is removed from search indexes. A 302 redirect (temporary) indicates a temporary move - browsers do not cache it and search engines keep the original URL indexed. Our nginx redirect rule generator produces syntactically correct rules for both types in the correct Nginx context.
How Our Nginx Redirect Rule Generator Works
- 1. Enter Your Redirect Pairs: Paste your redirect pairs into the input box - one per line in the format "/old-path /new-path". The generator supports space-separated, arrow-separated (->), and fat-arrow-separated (=>) formats. Lines starting with # are treated as comments and ignored.
- 2. Choose Rule Type and Context: Select the rule type (return 301, return 302, rewrite permanent, or rewrite redirect) and the Nginx context (server block or location block). The nginx redirect rule generator produces the correct syntax for each combination.
- 3. Copy or Download the Config: Click Generate Nginx Rules and the tool instantly produces a ready-to-paste .conf snippet. Copy to clipboard or download as nginx-redirects.conf. Test with "nginx -t" and reload with "nginx -s reload".
What the Generator Produces
- return 301 / return 302: The return directive is the recommended approach for simple URL redirects in Nginx. It is faster than rewrite because Nginx stops processing other directives immediately. In server block context, each redirect is wrapped in a location = {} block for exact matching.
- rewrite … permanent / redirect: The rewrite directive supports regex patterns in the source URL, making it suitable for pattern-based redirects (e.g. redirecting all /blog/* URLs to /articles/*). The "permanent" flag produces a 301 and "redirect" produces a 302.
- Exact vs. Regex Location Matching: For return rules in server block context, the generator uses "location = /path" (exact match) for plain paths and "location ~ pattern" (regex match) for paths containing special characters, ensuring the most specific match.
- Comment Headers & Context Labels: Every generated rule includes a comment showing the source → destination mapping. The output file includes a header comment indicating where to place the rules (server block or location block) for easy integration.
return vs. rewrite - Which Should You Use?
For simple URL-to-URL redirects, always prefer return over rewrite. The return directive is processed earlier in Nginx's request handling cycle, requires no regex evaluation, and is significantly faster. Use rewrite only when you need pattern matching - for example, redirecting all URLs matching a regex pattern to a new structure. Our nginx redirect rule generator defaults to return 301, which is the correct choice for the vast majority of redirect use cases including site migrations, URL restructuring, and SEO redirects.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Nginx Redirect Rule Generator
What is an Nginx redirect rule generator?
An Nginx redirect rule generator is a tool that creates Nginx configuration directives for URL redirects from a list of source and destination URL pairs. Our nginx redirect rule generator produces return 301, return 302, rewrite permanent, and rewrite redirect rules in the correct syntax for server and location block contexts.
What is the difference between return 301 and rewrite in Nginx?
The return directive is simpler and faster - it immediately sends a redirect response without further processing. The rewrite directive supports regex patterns and is processed earlier in the request cycle, but is more complex. For simple URL-to-URL redirects, always use return 301. Use rewrite only when you need pattern matching.
What format should I use for redirect pairs?
Enter one redirect pair per line in the format "/old-path /new-path". The generator also accepts arrow formats: "/old -> /new" and "/old => /new". Full URLs (https://example.com/page) work for the destination. Lines starting with # are treated as comments and ignored.
What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A 301 redirect is permanent - browsers cache it and search engines transfer link equity to the new URL. A 302 redirect is temporary - browsers do not cache it and search engines keep the original URL indexed. Use 301 for site migrations and URL restructuring, and 302 for temporary campaigns or A/B tests.
Should I place redirect rules in the server block or location block?
For most use cases, place redirect rules in the server block context. The generator wraps each rule in a specific location block for exact matching. Use location block context when you are adding redirects inside an existing location directive, such as a catch-all location / {} block.
How do I test my Nginx redirect rules after applying them?
After adding the rules to your Nginx config, run "nginx -t" to validate the syntax. If the test passes, reload Nginx with "nginx -s reload" to apply the changes without downtime. Test each redirect with curl: "curl -I https://yoursite.com/old-path" and verify the Location header.
Is this Nginx redirect rule generator free to use?
Yes! Our nginx redirect rule generator is 100% free with no signup, no account, and no usage limits. Generate Nginx redirect rules for any number of URL pairs directly in your browser.
Are my URLs safe when using this Nginx redirect rule generator?
Absolutely. All rule generation happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. No URL pairs or configuration data are sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy for your website structure.
Can I generate redirect rules with regex patterns?
Yes. If your source URL contains regex special characters (. * + ? ^ $ { } ( ) | [ ] \), the generator automatically uses regex location matching (location ~) for return rules and preserves the pattern as-is for rewrite rules. For plain paths, exact matching (location =) is used for better performance.