A system and method for maintaining direct, two-way asynchronous communication between a client and a web server. An HTTP-compliant request is communicated from a client to a web server. The HTTP request is configured to initialize a CGI that operates within or in conjunction with the web server. A task, associated with the CGI, is executed in accordance with the HTTP request. The task is configured to perform the two-way asynchronous communication with the client until terminated by the client or the CGI. The task includes an operation in which client request data is listened for and read by the CGI through the web server. The task further includes an operation in which data is created and sent by the CGI to the client through the web server.