What does CGI stand for in web development?

In web development, CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface. This is a standard protocol used to enable web servers to interact with executable programs, often written in languages such as Perl or Python. CGI allows web applications to process user input and generate dynamic web content based on that input.

The significance of CGI lies in its ability to facilitate communication between the web server and the program that generates the web page. When a user requests a page that requires dynamic content, the server uses CGI to call the appropriate program, which then processes the request and generates the HTML that is sent back to the user's browser.

This is especially important for creating web applications that require user interaction, such as form submissions, and for generating content based on database queries. In contrast, the other terms listed—like Compressed Graphics Image and Computer Generated Interface—do not align with established web development terminologies related to server-side programming or interaction. Thus, Common Gateway Interface is the correct term that defines this interaction mechanism.