About
CGI
Have questions about CGI? Wondering what the excitement
is all about? Read on!
C-G-what?
CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface,
which is the technical term for the interactive
forms and applications you see on many websites
today. Any time you click a radio button or type
in a text box, there is a CGI script on the other
end, processing your input and doing something
with it.
Action and interaction is the key here. By using
CGIs you can engage the visitors to your website
and make their visit a little more fun or productive.
CGI programs can provide additional value to your
site:
Ease
of Use
A common reason for including CGIs in a website
is to make interaction easier for the
visitor. For example, you could use a feedback
form to solicit input from your visitors, or
you may use a shopping cart to simplify the
ordering process for your customers.
Community
Another great use of CGIs is to foster community
among your site visitors. People may find your
site by searching on a particular product or
piece of information. But what brings them back
is the relevance and usefulness of your
website. By hosting free electronic postcards
or interactive message boards you can earn a
spot in the users' Bookmark file.
Pizzazz
Of course another common reason for implementing
CGI scripts is along the lines of the mountain
climber who said he climbed the mountain "because
it was there." A good number of sites on
the web today tout Java applets and fancy animations
for the sole purpose of being flashy.
If that is your motivation, I strongly urge
you to reevaluate your mission. You've created
your website with some set of goals in mind,
whether you've articulated them or not. Everything
you add to your site should be in-line with
those goals. If your site is simply a showcase
for cool programming, then that's one thing.
But if your goal is to sell something or provide
a service, you need to be sure that your CGIs
further that effort rather than distract and
detract from it.
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