---

name: render description: Deploys web applications on Render with automatic builds, managed databases, and zero-config SSL. Use when deploying web services, static sites, or setting up managed infrastructure.

Render

Cloud platform for deploying web services, static sites, and databases with automatic builds from Git.

Quick Start

1. Connect GitHub/GitLab at render.com
2. Create new Web Service
3. Select repository
4. Render auto-detects framework
5. Deploy

Service Types

Web Service

Long-running HTTP servers:

Copy# render.yaml
services:
  - type: web
    name: api
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm install && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start
    envVars:
      - key: NODE_ENV
        value: production

Static Site

Frontend applications:

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: frontend
    runtime: static
    buildCommand: npm install && npm run build
    staticPublishPath: ./dist

Background Worker

Non-HTTP processes:

Copyservices:
  - type: worker
    name: worker
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm install && npm run build
    startCommand: npm run worker

Cron Job

Scheduled tasks:

Copyservices:
  - type: cron
    name: daily-cleanup
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm install
    startCommand: npm run cleanup
    schedule: "0 0 * * *"

Configuration

render.yaml (Blueprint)

Copy# render.yaml
services:
  - type: web
    name: my-app
    runtime: node
    region: oregon

    # Build
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start

    # Environment
    envVars:
      - key: NODE_ENV
        value: production
      - key: DATABASE_URL
        fromDatabase:
          name: mydb
          property: connectionString

    # Health check
    healthCheckPath: /health

    # Scaling
    plan: starter
    numInstances: 1

    # Auto-deploy
    autoDeploy: true

    # Branch
    branch: main

databases:
  - name: mydb
    plan: starter
    databaseName: myapp
    user: myuser

envVarGroups:
  - name: shared-settings
    envVars:
      - key: LOG_LEVEL
        value: info

Environment Variables

CopyenvVars:
  # Static value
  - key: API_KEY
    value: my-secret-key

  # Sync from group
  - key: LOG_LEVEL
    fromGroup: shared-settings

  # From database
  - key: DATABASE_URL
    fromDatabase:
      name: mydb
      property: connectionString

  # From service
  - key: API_URL
    fromService:
      name: api
      type: web
      property: host

Node.js Deployment

package.json

Copy{
  "scripts": {
    "build": "tsc",
    "start": "node dist/index.js"
  },
  "engines": {
    "node": "20"
  }
}

Express/Fastify

Copyconst port = process.env.PORT || 10000;

app.listen(port, '0.0.0.0', () => {
  console.log(`Server running on port ${port}`);
});

Next.js Deployment

Configuration

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: nextjs-app
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start
    envVars:
      - key: NODE_ENV
        value: production

Render auto-detects Next.js and configures appropriately.

Static Site Deployment

React/Vite

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: react-app
    runtime: static
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    staticPublishPath: ./dist
    routes:
      - type: rewrite
        source: /*
        destination: /index.html

Headers & Redirects

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: static-site
    runtime: static
    staticPublishPath: ./dist
    headers:
      - path: /*
        name: X-Frame-Options
        value: DENY
    routes:
      - type: redirect
        source: /old-path
        destination: /new-path
        status: 301

Databases

PostgreSQL

Copydatabases:
  - name: mydb
    plan: starter  # starter, standard, pro
    databaseName: myapp
    user: myuser
    region: oregon

Redis

Copyservices:
  - type: redis
    name: cache
    plan: starter
    maxmemoryPolicy: allkeys-lru

Connection

CopyenvVars:
  - key: DATABASE_URL
    fromDatabase:
      name: mydb
      property: connectionString

  - key: REDIS_URL
    fromService:
      name: cache
      type: redis
      property: connectionString

Scaling

Instance Types

Horizontal Scaling

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: api
    plan: standard
    numInstances: 3

Auto-Scaling (Team plans)

Configure in dashboard:

• Min/max instances
• CPU/memory thresholds

Custom Domains

1. Add domain in service settings
2. Configure DNS:

Copy# A record
@ -> render IP

# CNAME for subdomain
www -> your-app.onrender.com

1. SSL certificate auto-provisioned

Health Checks

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    healthCheckPath: /health

Copyapp.get('/health', (req, res) => {
  res.status(200).json({ status: 'ok' });
});

Dockerfile Deployment

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: docker-app
    runtime: docker
    dockerfilePath: ./Dockerfile
    dockerContext: .

CopyFROM node:20-alpine

WORKDIR /app

COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm ci --only=production

COPY . .
RUN npm run build

EXPOSE 10000

CMD ["node", "dist/index.js"]

Preview Environments

Enable in service settings:

1. Pull Request Previews: On
2. Each PR gets unique URL
3. Auto-deleted on merge

Monorepo Support

Root Directory

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: api
    rootDir: apps/api
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start

Multiple Services

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: web
    rootDir: apps/web
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    staticPublishPath: ./dist

  - type: web
    name: api
    rootDir: apps/api
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start

Persistent Disk

Copyservices:
  - type: web
    name: app
    disk:
      name: data
      mountPath: /data
      sizeGB: 10

Private Services

Internal services not exposed to internet:

Copyservices:
  - type: pserv  # Private service
    name: internal-api
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm ci && npm run build
    startCommand: npm start

Access via internal DNS: internal-api:10000

CLI (Render CLI)

Copy# Install
npm install -g @render/cli

# Login
render login

# Deploy
render deploy

# Logs
render logs --service my-app

# SSH
render ssh my-app

See references/configuration.md for complete render.yaml options.