How to create www-data user?

Question

I am sort of new in linux ubuntu. I tried to deploy a Django app using Nginx.

Do i need to create www-data user in my linux? Or does it already exist?

Answer 1

If you installed nginx from the standard Ubuntu repos, the installation should have created both the www-data user and group. Anyway the command to check if a specific user exists is (www-data example):

grep www-data /etc/passwd

or group:

grep www-data /etc/group

If you want to be part of that group you should do this:

sudo usermod -a -G groupName userName

obviously userName is your login name. Then logout and login again, and check with:

groups

if www-data appears, you are part of that group.