What is a Form?

You can think of forms as small programs. The user interface appears in the Web document; the program that determines what is done with the data is stored on the Web server. (This program is stored in a cgi-bin directory, and is commonly referred to as a cgi-bin program.) You use Cosmo Create's form tool to design the interface--the text fields, option lists--and create a template for the cgi-bin program.

You create a form to let people search for information in a database, submit an online request form, and many other things. Here are a few specific examples:

• Many businesses place catalogs on the Web. To order merchandise, you fill out an online order form. Such a form often contains a variety of elements--a list of products the customer can order, text fields for entering your name and address, options for choosing the type of delivery you want, options for specifying a payment method, and a button for placing your order. After you submit the order, you may receive a confirmation notice telling you when the item will be shipped to you.

• Some Web pages are designed to help you search for documents that contain key words or phrases. You may see one text field, into which you type a word of interest, and one button, which you press to begin the search. After you've performed the search, you are be presented with a list of documents to view.

For information on constructing a form, see Building a Form. For information on writing a cgi-bin program and placing it in the proper place on the Web server, see the NetSite(TM) Communications Server Administrator's Guide.