Explain Nginx vs Envoy.
Nginx vs Envoy compares Nginx, a high-performance web server and reverse proxy, with Envoy, a modern cloud-native proxy built for microservices.
When to Use
Use Envoy for microservice architectures, dynamic routing, service discovery, and protocols like gRPC/HTTP/2. Use Nginx for traditional web apps, static content, and load balancing with simpler configurations.
Example
A startup might run Envoy sidecars in Kubernetes, while a classic website uses Nginx to serve static files and balance HTTP traffic.
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Why Is It Important
Knowing the difference helps you design scalable, reliable systems and answer architecture trade-off questions in interviews.
Interview Tips
In interviews, define both clearly: “Nginx is a proven web server/reverse proxy, Envoy is a modern service proxy for microservices.” Then mention when you’d choose each. Add a short example for extra credit.
Trade-offs
Nginx is lightweight and stable but lacks native service discovery. Envoy supports dynamic config and observability but adds more resource overhead and complexity.
Pitfalls
Avoid assuming they’re interchangeable. Envoy can’t serve static files, while Nginx can’t dynamically discover services without plugins. Misconfigurations and over-engineering are common mistakes.
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