A Common Gateway Interface Script (CGI Script) is a small program written in a language such as Perl, Tcl, C or C++, it functions as the glue between HTML pages and other programs on a web server.

For example, a CGI script would allow search data entered on a Web page to be sent to the DBMS (database management system) for lookup. It would also format the results of that search as an HTML page and send it back to the user. The CGI script resides in the server and obtains the data from the user via environment variables that the Web server makes available to it.

Plug-in scripting is a general term to describe any programming that is contained in a embedded page object. The best example of object scripting is 'Lingo', a language to extend the abilities of Macromedia's Shockwave animations. Many of these proprietary plug-in specific languages exist, all with varying capabilities. Some of these languages, including Lingo, can interface with JavaScript.

Typical functions for multi-media plug-ins include:

• Enable buttons to change pages in multi-media presentations

Server-Side Scripts are small programs that reside on the web server to interact with the web environment. When browsers execute scripts that link to the code file, the script will do its designed functions and return a dynamically generated page.

Typical use of server-side programming:

• Personalized page content to the user's needs
• Enable the web browser to act as a database interface
• e-Commerce shopping carts

Server-Side Scripting Types

• CGI (Common Gateway Interface)