METHOD = GET
GET sends the data as part of the URL. For example, suppose you enter the
value "West Rochester" in this form below:
| this code |
produces this |
<FORM METHOD=GET ACTION="../cgi-bin/mycgi.pl">
town: <INPUT NAME="town"><BR>
<INPUT TYPE=SUBMIT>
</FORM>
|
|
The value entered in the "town" field is tacked on to the end of the CGI's URL like this:
../cgi-bin/mycgi.pl?town=West+Rochester
When the form data (or "query data") is added to the end of the URL it
is "URL encoded" so that the data can be used in a standard URL. The
neat thing about URL encoding is that each different query to the CGI
has a different URL. Those unique URLs can be used directly in links
without any form being involved. For example, the URL above can be used
to create a link to exactly the same CGI results:
<A HREF="../cgi-bin/mycgi.pl?town=West+Rochester">West Rochester</A>
which creates this link: West Rochester.
The amount of data that can be sent with a URL is limited. GET
is good for short forms (ten or fewer fields and no
<TEXTAREA ...> or
file uploads).
