Q5600 What is CGI?

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Q5600 What is CGI?

CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface, and is a mechanism through which a browser is allowed to communicate with programs running on a server. If you look at each word in turn it makes more sense -

• Common - something that is available to many people, regardless of what software they are using.
• Gateway - a portal through which two things communicate. In this case, the browser communicates to the server.
• Interface - this implies that we are providing a "front end" for the application running on the server, which is exactly what it is. You enter information in the form, for example, and this is submitted to the program, just like a windows-style program.