SSI or Server Side Includes are what they call ’snippets’ of code, that your web page calls from a folder on the server, that it inputs into the browser, when that page is asked for.
Now, the SSI’s do not usually have the basic ‘head’ or ‘body’ tags, and by themselves are nothing but some undefined writings. HOWEVER, if you manage them right, they can save you loads of time for doing some pretty basic essentials to a web page.
A good example is the ‘footer’ of your site.
Within that footer you may have a disclaimer about the ages of the models, or a link to your 2257 page, or even a Copyright Notice. Maybe you’ll have a bottom navigation bar, for those who read to the bottom of a long page.
What is key here, is that you have one single page, with this code on it, so that when it comes time to make a change, instead of having to change EVERY PAGE OF YOUR SITE, YOU ONLY MAKE ONE SINGLE PAGE CHANGE.
It is like using CSS. You can adjust it anyway you want, so that it looks anyway you want, but instead of having to change a ton of pages, you make the changes to one page, that effects all pages that call the Server Side Includes.
NOTE: There is also a PHP INCLUDE that does the same thing.
Another benefit of using Server Side Includes is for advertising. They make it easy to set up a group of different ads, for different sections of your site. Then, if you decide to change the ads for one section, you again simply make the changes in one page.
Check out my INDEX page at Gaystoryman. Then check out my Free Fiction page.
The entire ad, at the bottom of the index page, is using a Server Side Include. You can see, it can be as much as you want, yet if you check out the source code, you won’t see any mention of that at all.
On the Free Fiction Page, check out the navigation block to the left, as well as the bottom. Check the source, and it appears like the code is written to the page, however they are, both, using Server Side Includes.
This means, I can alter the navigation text, at one spot, that will effect all my pages, that use that particular Navigation Block. It allows me to set up additional navigation blocks, for other areas of my site, like the Pay Per View section.
Mar 18th by Malcontent