What is the CGI-BIN directory? Text Tutorial Print

The CGI-BIN directory (short for Common Gateway Interface Binary) is a special folder on a web server where executable scripts are stored and run to generate dynamic content. These scripts are typically written in languages like Perl, Python, PHP, or Bash, and are executed by the server when a user requests a corresponding web page or action.

Key Features of the CGI-BIN Directory:

• Execution of Scripts: Files placed in cgi-bin are treated as executable programs. When accessed via a browser, the server runs the script and returns the output (usually HTML) to the user's browser.

• Dynamic Content Generation: CGI scripts can process form data, generate custom pages, interact with databases, or perform other server-side functions.

• Security Restrictions: Most servers limit which directories can execute CGI scripts for security reasons. The cgi-bin folder is configured explicitly to allow such execution.

• File Extensions: Scripts in the cgi-bin often have .cgi or .pl extensions, though this depends on the scripting language and server configuration.

 

The cgi-bin directory is where servers expect to find scripts that generate dynamic responses. It plays an important role in traditional server-side programming, though it's less common today with modern frameworks and APIs replacing classic CGI methods.