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- CGI (common gateway interface) is a method that allows
a Web server to receive data from a Web client. For example, when a
user fills-in a form on a Web page and submits that form, the server
receives the data by using the CGI protocol.
- CGI programs are programs that run on the web server and
are triggered by input from a web client. For example, a search engine
is a program that receives search parameters from a client, performs a
search and returns the results to the users.
- CGI programs can do many things, but their most important
function is to send customized HTML to the Web client.
- CGI is important because it makes the Web interactive --
every user can use a Web site according to their needs. It allows
for Web sites to be more than just storehouses of information; they
can now be applications (online banking, searching, shopping, stock
trading).
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