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• Email Forms
  A simple CGI forms routine just formats the data into an email and sends it back to the webmaster. More complicated routines can maintain a database, send an acknowledgement and validate data.

• Mailing List Maintenance
  These routines allow visitors to subscribe and unsubscribe from a mailing list. In this case, the CGI routine maintains a database of email addresses, and the better ones send acknowledgements back to the visitor and webmaster.

A CGI routine can be anything which understands the CGI standard. 

A popular CGI language is called PERL, which is simple to understand and use (well, compared to other languages).

PERL is a scripting language, which means each time a PERL routine is executed the web server must examine the PERL commands to determine what to do. In contrast, a compiled language such as C++ or Visual Basic can be directly executed, which is faster and more efficient. 

Okay, in a nutshell (and greatly simplified), here's how it works:

1. You (the webmaster) specify a form tag which includes the name of the CGI routine.
    
2. You create HTML tags which retrieves data from your visitors.
    
3. Each of the input tags includes a variable name. The data which is retrieved from the visitor (or directly set if the tag includes the "hidden" qualifier) is placed in the variable name.
    
4. When the visitor presses the "submit" button, the CGI routine which was specified in the form tag is executed. At this time, the CGI routine "takes control", meaning the browser essentially is waiting for it to complete.
    
5. This CGI routine can get data from variable names. It retrieves the data and does whatever action is required.
    
6. When the CGI routine finishes, it returns control back to the web client (the browser).

Some important things to remember about CGI routines:

• You can install CGI routines on your own site if your host allows it - Addr.Com is an example of a web host which allows for CGI routines.
  
  Some web hosts do not allow you to install your own routines but do provide some pre-written ones to you.
  
   If these are not sufficient for your needs, you can find a remote hosting service to provide the necessary functions.
   
• Generally, if you install your own routines they must be installed in the cgi-bin directory of your site. This is a special location which allows scripts and programs to be executed.
   
• CGI routines work best on Apache-style servers. Windows NT and Windows 2000 does support CGI, but it tends to be slow and problematic.
   
• If you use a remote hosting service, you must remember that although they appear to be giving you this for free, you are actually paying a price.
  
  Usually they want to display advertisements, although some of them actually take visitors away from your site.
   
• When you write a CGI routine, you have the choice of a scripting language like PERL or a compiled language such as C++ or Visual Basic.
  
  Anything which can execute on the web server is acceptable. I hope this short introduction to CGI has cleared up some of the mystery.

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CGI: What the Heck Is That?
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By Richard Lowe Jr And Claudia Arevalo-Lowe Copyright (c) 1999-2001, Richard Lowe Jr And Claudia Arevalo-Lowe. Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets.

This website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge. Learn how to create, promote and maintain an awesome website  which not only attracts visitors but makes them want to come back.

You can visit the web site at www.internet-tips.net subscribe to the weekly ezine at  http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm and subscribe to daily tips by sending an email to internet-tips @getresponse.com Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com