Apache or CGI

**ceo** · September 4th, 2005, 2:29 AM

I know I could probably look this up...but I saw something about this somewhere and it's 1:30am and I'm lazy.

So, just a random curious question - what exactly is the difference between running PHP as CGI, as opposed to Apache? (I know Surpass runs it as Apache....see I do know some stuff!) I mean does it make PHP do other things, or not do things...or...what?

**ghostcop** · September 4th, 2005, 3:24 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Gateway_Interface

Basically, in CGI mode the web server calls a CGI script whenever the script's URL is requested. Each time the script is called, a new process is spawned and the php binary is run. CGI scripts can be in almost any language, with PHP being one of them. When the CGI script produces output, Apache sends it to the browser.

When Apache itself handles PHP, what is happening is .php scripts are being processed by Apache's mod_php. This allows better control over what's going on, as Apache itself is executing the scripts, not handing off the processing to some third party (as in CGI). I believe it's faster this way, as well, but don't quote me on that.

**ceo** · September 4th, 2005, 4:28 PM

Thanks for answering, ghostcop! This is truly fascinating to me - and I'm inclined to agree with it being faster on Apache.

**Skipdawg** · September 4th, 2005, 5:06 PM

Great question and answer. I was wondering about this a little myself. kewl

September 4th, 2005, 2:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
ceo Senior Member Super #1 Joined in Jan 2005 1,546 posts Gave thanks: 70 Thanked 33 times	Apache or CGI I know I could probably look this up...but I saw something about this somewhere and it's 1:30am and I'm lazy. So, just a random curious question - what exactly is the difference between running PHP as CGI, as opposed to Apache? (I know Surpass runs it as Apache....see I do know some stuff!) I mean does it make PHP do other things, or not do things...or...what?

September 4th, 2005, 3:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
ghostcop Surpass Fan On a golden path... Joined in Nov 2004 Lives in San Francisco 364 posts Gave thanks: 0 Thanked 3 times	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Gateway_Interface Basically, in CGI mode the web server calls a CGI script whenever the script's URL is requested. Each time the script is called, a new process is spawned and the php binary is run. CGI scripts can be in almost any language, with PHP being one of them. When the CGI script produces output, Apache sends it to the browser. When Apache itself handles PHP, what is happening is .php scripts are being processed by Apache's mod_php. This allows better control over what's going on, as Apache itself is executing the scripts, not handing off the processing to some third party (as in CGI). I believe it's faster this way, as well, but don't quote me on that. __________________ Err the Blog ones zeros majors and minors - a tumblelog

September 4th, 2005, 5:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Skipdawg Insanely Super #1 Joined in Jul 2005 Lives in Northwest USA 4,154 posts Gave thanks: 39 Thanked 78 times	Great question and answer. I was wondering about this a little myself. kewl __________________

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September 4th, 2005, 4:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
ceo Senior Member Super #1 Joined in Jan 2005 1,546 posts Gave thanks: 70 Thanked 33 times	Thanks for answering, ghostcop! This is truly fascinating to me - and I'm inclined to agree with it being faster on Apache.

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