Opening CGI files

Did your computer fail to open a CGI file? We explain what CGI files are and recommend software that we know can open or convert your CGI files.

What is a CGI file?

CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface. Files that contain the .cgi file extension are are script files that are written in the C or Perl programming languages. These files are used to create web pages and they are usually stored within the cgi-bin folder of a website directory. The files define how web server software delegates the generation of certain web pages including executable files and stand-alone applications. These are often referred to as CGI scripts.

CGI scripts can be written in any programming language, but scripting languages are most commonly used to create these pages. CGI files are commonly used to run basic Web scripts, enabling website features such as integrated email message forms and rotating advertisements.