.cgi versus .pl

[JYM]

What is the difference between the file extensions .cgi and .pl?

I recently uploaded a script which was in .cgi and it worked on my site the first time I refreshed it, but since then it has stopped working. I renamed to .pl and it works. What is the difference between these two? I'm under the impression that they are two similar/identical extensions that are used on different servers.

 

[wackyjoe]

CGI is comman gateway interface script

whereas

PL is a PERL program file if im not mistaken

 

[weblord]

they are both similar it depends which mime type are executable as set by your server admins.

 

[RJ]

Both are typically used for perl scripts. What matters is if your web server is setup to recognize both as executable CGI.

If the .cgi extension is not working, you could try adding this to your .htaccess file-

AddType application/x-httpd-cgi .cgi .pl

 

[nasaboy007]

huh cgi and pl are the same... learn something new everyday.

i know that .pl is PERL, but my noobiness always led me to believe that .cgi was a different language in itself... X_X

thanks for clearing that RJ

 

[Nitroshock]

PL is normally used as a Perl Library file... A file with common sub-routines included in one or more Perl scripts.

PL scripts can execute the same as CGI scripts provided the webserver is configured to recognize them as executable.
Along these same lines, any extension could potentially be a Perl script, provided the extension is added to the webserver's config.

-Nitro