Server Side Includes (SSI)
SSI can perform a variety of functions or processes to a document on the server side of the document request. The result is that the web server has pre-processed the document to a custom rendering prior to sending it to the visitor's client (browser). Two of the most commonly used functions of SSI are:
Virtual Includes
Virtual includes take content from another document or source and inserts it into the current document at the spot where the include was called.
Conditional Processing
SSI conditional processing uses an operation of tests and conditions to make a decision. That decision is use to choose a different action or result. Thereby determining what content will be sent as part of the current document.
Other SSI Resources for More Information
- Apache:
Module mod_include (SSI). - BigNoseBird:
Extended Server Side Include Directives. - The CGI Resource Index:
Documentation for Server Side Includes. - Zytrax Products:
Regular Expressions and SSI. - Zytrax Products:
Apache and Server Side Includes. - Perl:
Regular Expressions (an example).
[Updated: Sunday, November 18, 2007]
