# Server Side Includes

> interpreted server-side scripting language

**Wikidata**: [Q1411939](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1411939)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_Side_Includes)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/server-side-includes

## Summary
Server Side Includes (SSI) is an interpreted server-side scripting language used for embedding dynamic content within HTML files. It allows web servers to process special commands in HTML documents before sending them to users, enabling the inclusion of variables, timestamps, and other dynamic elements.

## Key Facts
- Server Side Includes is classified as a scripting language specifically designed for server-side processing.
- The technology has several aliases including SHTML, SSI, Server-parsed HTML, and file extensions .shtml, .shtm, and .stm.
- It has a Freebase ID of /m/026vk1 and was referenced in Wikidata with source Q15241312 on October 28, 2013.
- The technology is documented in 19 different language versions of Wikipedia including Czech, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Georgian.
- Server Side Includes has Microsoft Academic ID 15557164, though this service has been discontinued.
- The file format is documented under the wiki page ID "Server_Side_Includes".

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Server Side Includes?
A: Server Side Includes is primarily used to embed dynamic content within HTML files by allowing the server to process special commands before delivering the web page to users.

### Q: How does Server Side Includes differ from other scripting languages?
A: Unlike client-side scripting languages like JavaScript, Server Side Includes is processed entirely on the server before the HTML is sent to the browser, meaning the commands are never visible to end users.

### Q: What file extensions are associated with Server Side Includes?
A: Common file extensions include .shtml, .shtm, and .stm, which indicate to the web server that the file contains Server Side Includes commands that need to be processed.

### Q: In which languages is Server Side Includes documented?
A: Server Side Includes documentation is available in multiple languages including Czech, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Georgian.

## Why It Matters
Server Side Represents an early approach to creating dynamic web content without requiring full server-side programming languages. It simplified web development by allowing basic dynamic elements like timestamps, environmental variables, and file inclusion through simple commands embedded directly in HTML. This approach was particularly valuable for static websites needing occasional dynamic content, as it was easier to implement than full server-side programming solutions. While largely superseded by more advanced technologies like PHP, JSP, and ASP, Server Side Includes laid groundwork for server-side processing concepts and remains a lightweight solution for simple dynamic content needs in certain hosting environments.

## Notable For
- Being one of the earliest server-side technologies for creating dynamic web content before the widespread adoption of full server-side programming languages
- Its simple syntax that allows inclusion of dynamic elements directly within HTML files using special commands
- The distinctive file extensions (.shtml, .shtm, .stm) that differentiate pages containing Server Side Includes from standard HTML files
- Its presence in Wikipedia documentation across 19 different language editions, indicating global relevance in web development history

## Body
### Technology Overview
Server Side Includes (SSI) is an interpreted server-side scripting language specifically designed for embedding dynamic content within HTML files. The technology allows web servers to process HTML documents before delivery to clients, executing commands that include variables, timestamps, and other dynamic elements.

### File Format
Server Side Uses specific file extensions to indicate pages that require server processing:
- .shtml
- .shtm
- .stm

### Documentation
The technology is documented across multiple language editions of Wikipedia, with support for at least 19 languages including:
- Czech (cs)
- German (de)
- English (en)
- Spanish (es)
- Finnish (fi)
- French (fr)
- Hebrew (he)
- Italian (it)
- Japanese (ja)
- Georgian (ka)

### Identifiers
Server Side Includes has several unique identifiers across different knowledge bases:
- Freebase ID: /m/026vk1
- Wikidata source reference: Q15241312 (added October 28, 2013)
- Microsoft Academic ID: 15557164 (now discontinued)
- Wikipedia title: "Server Side Includes"
- File format wiki page ID: "Server_Side_Includes"

### Classification
As a scripting language, Server Side Includes is classified under the broader category of programming languages designed for runtime events. It is specifically positioned as an interpreted server-side technology, distinguishing it from client-side scripting languages that execute in the user's browser.

### Aliases
The technology is known by various aliases and alternative names:
- SSI (primary abbreviation)
- SHTML
- Server-parsed HTML
- Server Side Include
- 服务器端包含 (Chinese translation)
- Server Side Includes (formal name)

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013