ColdFusion - Server-Side Scripting Reference

Note: This is a reference page with static code examples. ColdFusion requires Adobe ColdFusion Server or the open-source Lucee server, which are not installed on this server.

Overview

Released: 1995 by Allaire (now Adobe)

File Extension: .cfm, .cfc

Server Required: Adobe ColdFusion or Lucee (open-source)

Language: CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language) - tag-based

ColdFusion pioneered the concept of tag-based server-side scripting. Instead of embedding code in delimiters like PHP or ASP, ColdFusion uses custom HTML-like tags prefixed with "cf". This made it very accessible to web designers who were already familiar with HTML.

ColdFusion was particularly popular for rapid application development and database-driven websites. It remains in use in government and enterprise environments.

Hello World

ColdFusion uses <cfoutput> tags to output dynamic content, with variables wrapped in # symbols:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Hello, ColdFusion!</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Hello, ColdFusion!</h1>
    <p>This page was generated with ColdFusion</p>

    <cfoutput>
        <p>Current time: #Now()#</p>
        <p>Your IP: #CGI.REMOTE_ADDR#</p>
    </cfoutput>
</body>
</html>
      

Environment Variables (CGI Scope)

ColdFusion accesses server variables through the CGI scope:

<cfloop collection="#CGI#" item="key">
    <cfoutput>
        <b>#key#:</b> #CGI[key]#<br>
    </cfoutput>
</cfloop>
      

Form Handling (GET)

URL parameters are accessed via the URL scope:

<!--- Check if parameter exists --->
<cfif structKeyExists(URL, "name")>
    <cfoutput>
        <p>Hello, #htmlEditFormat(URL.name)#!</p>
    </cfoutput>
<cfelse>
    <p>No name provided</p>
</cfif>
      

Form Handling (POST)

POST data is accessed via the FORM scope:

<cfif structKeyExists(FORM, "username")>
    <cfoutput>
        <p>Posted username: #htmlEditFormat(FORM.username)#</p>
    </cfoutput>
</cfif>
      

Sessions

ColdFusion has built-in session management via the SESSION scope:

<!--- Enable sessions in Application.cfc or at top of page --->
<cfapplication name="MyApp" sessionmanagement="yes">

<!--- Store in session --->
<cfset SESSION.username = FORM.username>

<!--- Retrieve from session --->
<cfoutput>#SESSION.username#</cfoutput>

<!--- Clear session --->
<cfset structClear(SESSION)>
      

Database Access

One of ColdFusion's strengths was easy database access with <cfquery>:

<cfquery name="getUsers" datasource="myDB">
    SELECT * FROM users WHERE active = 1
</cfquery>

<cfoutput query="getUsers">
    <p>#username# - #email#</p>
</cfoutput>
      

Proprietary Technology: Adobe ColdFusion requires expensive licensing. The open-source alternative Lucee provides similar functionality for free.

← Back to Home