The cgi-bin directory is a special folder on your web hosting server specifically designed to store and execute CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts. These scripts are small programs, often written in languages like Perl, Python, or Bash, that run on the server to generate dynamic web content or process data from forms.

When a visitor interacts with a part of your website—such as submitting a contact form or clicking a search button—their request can be sent to a script inside the cgi-bin directory. The server then executes that script, processes the information, and sends back a customized HTML page to the user's browser. This is the foundation for many interactive website features.

Key things to know about cgi-bin:

• Security & Permissions: Scripts in cgi-bin run with specific server permissions. It's crucial to ensure scripts are well-coded to prevent security vulnerabilities.
• Legacy & Modern Use: While newer technologies like PHP, Node.js, and various frameworks are now common, cgi-bin remains in use for specific legacy applications, custom administrative tools, and certain hosting environments.
• Access & Management: You typically manage this directory via your hosting control panel (like cPanel) or FTP client. Scripts placed here often need their file permissions (chmod) set to 755 to be executable.

If you see a "cgi-bin" folder in your hosting file manager, it's a normal part of your server's structure. You generally don't need to modify it unless you are installing a specific application or script that requires it. For most modern websites, your primary web files (HTML, PHP, images) belong in the public_html or www folder, not directly in cgi-bin.