User Interaction

Many web sites have sophisticated user-interfaces to either enhance the visitor’s experience or to provide some specific interaction between the user and the site.

• Forms: Typically when information is required from the site visitor, they are encouraged to fill in an on-line form. Behind this a program, or script, has to run in order to process the data. Many web hosting providers have such standard programs on the server as part of their service, allowing the client to utilise and customise them accordingly.
• Streaming and "plug-ins": Sophisticated effects and user-interaction with the web site can be achieved by using complementary technology. However such effects usually require that the user has a separate "plug-in" installed on their computer to work with their system’s browser. The browser is the generic name for the software used to view web pages, the most common being Internet Explorer and Netscape. The types of plug-ins can vary depending on what the web site is trying to delivery. For moving graphics Macromedia’s Flash and Shockwave are used to create animations or interactive games for example. The software is embedded into the development of the site itself, with little required from the server. For music and video streaming, however, significant resources are needed on the server to not only store the data, but to host the streaming software and transfer it to the users so that they can play it on their computer over the Internet. Microsoft Windows has such software built into the operating system, but third-party players include Real Player and QuickTime.
• Server hosted applications: In much the same way that application programs might be run on your own computer or across the network, it is also possible to host applications on the web server and make them available to any Internet user. For example, these might include calendars, diaries, time recording, web-based e-mail and similar systems. These are ideal for collaboration tools between individuals. They can be third-party applications or, alternatively, may be specially written for your system.
• Databases: The use of databases hosted on the server can enable both content management systems and applications which run directly from the server.