The best way to think of things is that as a request comes in, Nginx will scan through the configuration to find a “location” line that matches the request. There are TWO modes that nginx uses to scan through the configuration file: literal string matching and regular expression checks. Nginx first scans through ALL literal string location entries in the order that they occur in the configuration file, and secondly scans through ALL the regular expression location entries in the order that they occur in the configuration file. So be aware – location ordering order DOES matter...
rewrite
Nginx location and rewrite configuration made easy
Submitted by sandip on Sat, 10/30/2010 - 00:53(via blog.rackcorp.com)
Mod_Rewrite Tips and Tricks
Submitted by sandip on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 09:10(via www.askapache.com)
Mod_Rewrite Tips and Tricks are lot of .htaccess rewrite examples that show specific uses for creating .htaccess rewrites to do all kinds of cool and profitable stuff for your site. Htaccess Rewrites are enabled by using the Apache module mod_rewrite, which is one of the most powerful Apache modules and features availale. Htaccess Rewrites through mod_rewrite provide the special ability to Rewrite requests internally as well as Redirect request externally...