what is common gateway interface
CGI: Common Gateway Interface. Note: This page is no longer maintained. It is left here for historical purposes. Unfortunately, over time, some links may break that are not maintained by the entities managing those resources. 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.