Creating Server Scripts

The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is the specified standard for communication between HTTP servers (Web servers) and server-side gateway programs. The CGI specifications define how data passes from the server to gateway programs, and vice versa.

Gateway programs can be compiled programs written in languages such as C, C++ or Pascal, or they can be executable scripts written in languages such as Perl, TCL, ASP, and other various shell programs. Most gateway programs are Perl scripts; they are easy to write and modify and are transportable between computers.