CGI: Common Gateway Interface

An HTTP server is often used as a gateway to a legacy information system; for example, an existing body of documents or an existing database application. The Common Gateway Interface is an agreement between HTTP server implementors about how to integrate such gateway scripts and programs.

It is typically used in conjunction with HTML forms to build database applications.

See also: WWW and OOP for more on building distributed applications on the web.

Specs and Documentation

Intro to The Common Gateway Interface

What is CGI? An overview by the folks at NCSA.

The Common Gateway Interface

The CGI specs are currently maintained by the NCSA Software Development Group. These are the same folks who brought you NCSA Mosaic and NCSA httpd.

CGI 1.2 specification (in progress)

This directory is the repository for the effort (reactivated in November of 1997) to turn the de facto Common Gateway Interface "standard" into an actual Informational RFC.

The WWW Common Gateway Interface Version 1.1

16th October 1995. David Robinson. An attempt to update the CGI spec. Released as an Internet Draft.

Apache Module mod_cgi

Using CGI in the CERN httpd

Configuring CERN httpd to use CGI scripts with the Exec directive.

Setting up CGI in NCSA httpd

A description of using CGI scripts with the NCSA httpd, using ScriptAlias and CGI files.

CGI 1.1 Microsoft Windows Interface

Discussion

comp.infosystems.www.authoring.cgi

This newsgroup is a good place to find example scripts and discuss problems with other CGI developers.

www-talk

If you have technical comments or questions about the development of the CGI spec itself, www-talk is a good place for them. You might also send to cgi@ncsa.uiuc.edu.

Next-Generation APIs

See also: WWW and OOP for info on using CORBA and ILU in place of CGI.

Fast-CGI

using the CGI programming model in combination with multiplexed network connections.

ILU Requestor

an approach using distributed objects

NSAPI (Netscape Server API)

Part of Netscape's server software products.

ISAPI (Internet Server API)

Developed by Progress Software and Microsoft.

SAPI

Spyglass Server Application Development Interface

Apache API

Apache

WRB

Oracle's distributed HTTP server technology

See also: Programming the Web: A search for APIs at WWW5.