Return to CLIP Main Page

Responding to Input: Forms

• A form is a standard HTML document (supported by all browsers) with
  • ``fields'' which can be filled in (each has a name),
  • a ``submit'' button,
  • URL of CGI app. that will handle the input (the ``handler'')
• Operation (when hitting the ``submit'' button):
  1. We assume the URL of the handler is http://www.xxx.yyy/handler.cgi.
  2. Handler URL and form data (input) are passed to server.
  3. Server starts handler and passes form data (via stdin or standard file name) associating field names to entered values.
  4. The handler produces the appropriate reply,
  5. which is passed back to the browser.