Nginx is an open-source web server that is mainly used as a reverse proxy or HTTP cache. It functions as a reverse proxy server by directing web traffic to particular servers and is mainly used for security and load balancing. It can also function independently as a web server.

Prime features of Nginx:

• It is easy to configure with the main aim to serve static web content or to act as a proxy server.
• It can be deployed to serve dynamic content on the network using FastCGI, SCGI handlers for scripts, WSGI application servers, or Phusion Passenger modules, as well as it can act as a software load balancer.
• It makes use of an asynchronous event-driven approach, rather than threads, to manage requests. Its modular event-driven architecture has the ability to offer predictable performance under high loads.