The Digital Research Initiative
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What is CGI? Why is it important?

  • 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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eric
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