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Choosing a Web Hosting Provider

CGI Support?

SUMMARY: Check your web hosting provider's level of support for CGI scripts.

If you plan on making your website dynamic with CGI scripts (Common Gateway Interface), make sure your web hosting provider supports these programs! Even if you plan on creating a plain-text "brochureware" website now, in the future you may wish to add feedback scripts, shopping carts, guestbooks, or other dynamic elements.

Some web hosting providers do not support CGI at all, other support a limited subset of pre-made programs, and then other web hosting providers may let you install (or develop) any CGI script you choose.

Also, before choosing a web hosting provider, make sure it supports the language of CGI script you wish to use. Some may support C only, others Perl, yet other web hosting providers may support scripts in PHP, Java, or other languages.