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Deploy a Node.js application with Docker and a reverse proxy

Containerise an application, run it as a service, and put NGINX in front of it.

Last updated 1 August 2026

Install Docker

bash
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
systemctl enable --now docker

A minimal compose file

yaml
services:
  app:
    build: .
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:3000:3000"
    environment:
      NODE_ENV: production

Bind to localhost

Publishing to 127.0.0.1 keeps the application off the public interface. NGINX is then the only thing listening publicly.

Reverse proxy

nginx
location / {
  proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
  proxy_set_header Host $host;
  proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
  proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
}

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Deploy a Node.js application with Docker and a reverse proxy — Guide — VdsRent