# Overview

## Nginx-LE

Nginx-LE provides a docker container and tools to create an Nginx web server that automatically acquires and renews HTTPS certificates.

Nginx-LE uses the LetsEncrypt CLi tool, Certbot, to acquire and renew certificates.

Nginx-LE ships as a Docker image which you can use with Docker or Docker Compose.

You can optionally use Nginx-LE CLi tooling which allows you to configure and build Nginx-LE containers in a couple of seconds.

Nginx-LE is suitable for production systems, internal infrastructure and even when a developer needs a web server on their local machine.

This documentation tends to use the terms LetsEncrypt and Certbot somewhat interchangeably.

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Nginx-LE supports both public-facing web servers and private (internal) web servers such as those used by individual developers.

The key advantages of Nginx-LE are:

* automatic certificate acquisition and renewal
* no down time when renewing certificates
* for Public facing servers, works with any DNS server
* support for wildcard certificates
* makes it easy for a developer to acquire a live certificate.

### Automatic renewal

Nginx-LE supports the automatic renewal of both Public and Private Web Servers.

### No downtime.

Nginx-LE is able to renew a certificate WITHOUT taking your web server offline.

Nginx-LE leaves your web server fully operational whilst it acquires or renews a certificate. After acquiring or renewing a certificate Nginx-LE performs an Nginx `reload` command which is close to instantaneous.