What is CGI ?

Common Gateway Interface (CGI) Explained.

"CGI" stands for "Common Gateway Interface". It is not a programming language or a software product.

CGI is simply a "method" of interfacing data to the World Wide Web.

The sole purpose of a "CGI script" is to produce a valid HTML page.

The "page" may be either a "display only" page, or an HTML form that can accept user input and return yet another page based on that input.

CGI generated pages can contain; scrolling lists, input fields, links to other pages or CGI scripts, database reports, text, graphics, and as simple or complex a look as desired, (CGI generated pages can use nearly all HTML in the same way you would use those tags to create a page with an HTML page markup program).


Why use CGI ?

CGI allows your web server to produce web pages "on the fly" from databases, text files, and other disk-based data.

CGI scripts can create and process HTML forms and output a dynamic web pages based on the values passed entered into those forms.

CGI is the method used to create "web guest books", online order entry systems, interactive databases, games, and other output for the World Wide Web where a "hard coded" web page can not.


Where do I get CGI software?

Since CGI is a method and not a particular brand or platform of software, you can accomplish a CGI interface with many differnt programming languages.

The most popular language today is probably Perl, and there are many sites on the web with free perl scripts.

Search for "perl script" on any major search engine and you will find literally thousands of large script sites and smaller individual programmer sites with Perl / CGI scripts and instructions on how to set them up. Many hosting companies include Perl scripts for page counters, guest books, form mail responders, and other utilities.