Nginx: When the `index` and `try_files` in the same block, why the `try_files` will be processed, not the `index` directive?

Question

The nginx.conf is as following:

http {
    server {
        listen  8080;
        server_name example.com;             
        root /tmp/test/example;
        location / {
            index index.html;
            try_files $uri /test.html;
        }

    }
}

When I access example.com:8080, it accesses the /tmp/test/example/test.html, not the index.html.

Answer 1

The try_files directive is documented here.

It specifically documents two file elements: $uri and $uri/. The first tests for the presence of normal files and the second for the presence of directories.

The index directive is invoked as a consequence of processing a URI which points to a directory which contains a file matching one of the directives parameters.

In the case of try_files $uri /test.html;, the existence of a directory is not tested, and therefore the default action is taken.

In the case of try_files $uri $uri/ /test.html;, the existence of a directory is tested, and therefore the index action is taken.