Nginx Proxy Manager is a containerized gateway controller that provides a graphical interface for managing web server routing, security certificates, and access control lists. It functions as a centralized dashboard for directing incoming web traffic to internal services, allowing users to map domain names to specific network ports without manual configuration file edits.
The project distinguishes itself by automating the lifecycle of SSL certificates through integrated certificate authority clients and ACME challenges. It utilizes a dynamic routing engine based on high-performance web server platforms to modify traffic rules in real time, while an event-driven system monitors database changes to trigger configuration reloads without interrupting active connections.
Beyond core routing, the platform supports network access control by implementing authentication layers and IP filtering directly at the gateway level. It maintains persistent state for proxy host definitions and security metadata using a lightweight relational database, ensuring consistent management of infrastructure across isolated backend containers.
