Basic FAQs
The 2023 Release of Adobe ColdFusion Standard Edition offers you a single platform to rapidly build, test and deploy web applications for moderate traffic on a single server. Boost productivity with full scripting support and other exciting language features. Generate high-quality PDF files with the new HTML to PDF conversion engine. Easily create dynamic HTML5 charts. Use an array of trusted tools and proven techniques to bullet-proof your applications with the most secure development platform that exists today.
CFML is the language that developers use to build ColdFusion applications. CFML offers extensive scripting capabilities. It also supports tag-based syntax that closely resembles HTML and XML, so it is ideally suited to programming applications that use these markup languages. It is easy to learn yet powerful enough to handle the most demanding web application logic.
Advanced developers can extend and customize CFML through custom tags, reusable object-based components, and user-defined functions, as well as integrate with Java, .NET, SOAP web services, REST, and more. Developers can generate PDFs on the fly from HTML or CFML, add form fields, and even digitally sign documents.
ColdFusion is designed for web developers who build dynamic websites and Internet applications.
Java developers can rapidly build Java EE–based web applications using Adobe ColdFusion Standard. Tight and two-way integration with Java lets you invoke Java from ColdFusion and vice versa.
Developers who have just started developing applications for the web can benefit from the ColdFusion productivity features as well as its intuitive scripting and tag-based language, CFML.
With its extensive PDF capabilities, ColdFusion is an ideal platform for building web applications that require PDF integration, such as invoicing, reporting, and document management systems.
Adobe ColdFusion Builder extension for Visual Studio Code, the all-new Adobe ColdFusion Builder extension for VS Code, helps developers to edit and validate code, manage files and projects, and debug and scan for security vulnerabilities. ColdFusion Builder extension provides a unified, customizable, and extensible development environment to code applications, manage servers, and deploy projects. ColdFusion pages are simple text files, just like HTML pages, so you can develop them with any text editor.
There are many online and in-person training opportunities for ColdFusion. A great place to start is the Getting Started section of the ColdFusion Developer Center on Adobe Developer Connection. Discover the power ColdFusion has to offer by browsing code snippets, examining sample applications, and seeing new features in action. Adobe also offers several training and certification programs.
There are training and event videos available in the ColdFusion YouTube Channel. The ColdFusion Community portal offers a powerful tool for building and strengthening communities, fostering collaboration, and driving growth and innovation.
Learn CF in a Week is a community driven training program that teaches all the basics you need to be a ColdFusion Developer in one week.
Electronic versions of all documents are available and accessible online at ColdFusion Help and Support. However, printed documentation is not available with Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release).
Adobe publishes a partial list of partners committed to delivering hosting solutions for ColdFusion. View the ColdFusion hosting partners page.
Adobe ColdFusion also has published AMI images on Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure VMI.
ColdFusion is built on top of the Java stack. It is a powerful application server that you can use to rapidly build Java EE–based web applications. Adobe ColdFusion Standard offers tight integration with Java, so it is straightforward to invoke Java from ColdFusion and vice versa. For more information about the Java integration, see the ColdFusion Help and Support.
Installation, deployment, and platforms
The ColdFusion runtime environment is a Java application that takes advantage of many powerful services in the Java EE platform to connect to databases, manage security, and process application requests. When Adobe ColdFusion Standard is installed in the Java EE configuration on top of a Java application server, it uses the server’s Java EE infrastructure to execute ColdFusion applications as pure Java bytecode. Developers can then continue to develop and deploy ColdFusion pages while easily managing ColdFusion server settings using the ColdFusion Administrator.
Adobe ColdFusion Standard supports IBM® WebSphere, Oracle® WebLogic, Apache Tomcat, and JBoss. For details, see the systems support matrix.
Adobe ColdFusion Standard supports most major databases, including Apache Derby, Microsoft SQL Server, MY SQL, and PostgreSQL. For a complete list of supported databases, see the systems support matrix.
Adobe ColdFusion Standard supports most major web servers, including IIS, Apache, and Sun™. For a complete list of supported web servers, see the systems support matrix.
No. Adobe ColdFusion (2023 release) cannot be run as a 32-bit application on the 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS. For details about supported platforms, see the ColdFusion system requirements.
You may be eligible for a free upgrade to Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release).
Holders of current ColdFusion subscriptions/maintenance should have received an email or letter with appropriate instructions. If you did not receive an email or letter, contact Customer Service and include your ColdFusion serial number in your request.
Integration with other products and technologies
No. Adobe ColdFusion Standard uses CFML to build applications. ColdFusion makes it possible to take advantage of the power of Java application servers without learning complex technologies, such as the Java language, JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java servlets, or Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB). If you are already using Java, ColdFusion can use virtually any existing Java libraries or classes because it is compiled straight to Java Virtual Machine bytecode, just like Java source code.
Yes. You can use ColdFusion to call local or remote Microsoft .NET assembly classes as CFML objects. ColdFusion applications can use .NET assemblies to directly access and control Microsoft products (such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint), use existing .NET components, or use .NET assemblies that you create to leverage features that are difficult to use or not available in ColdFusion or Java.
Adobe ColdFusion Builder extension for Visual Studio Code, the all-new Adobe ColdFusion Builder extension for VS Code, helps developers to edit and validate code, manage files and projects, and debug and scan for security vulnerabilities. ColdFusion Builder extension provides a unified, customizable, and extensible development environment to code applications, manage servers, and deploy projects. ColdFusion pages are simple text files, just like HTML pages, so you can develop them with any text editor.
Complimentary ColdFusion Standard for education
Complimentary Adobe ColdFusion Standard is available to all eligible education customers for learning purposes only, not for production purposes. Students, faculty, and staff can get serial numbers to activate downloadable trial versions by sending a mail to this address. Attach a copy of your student ID, faculty ID, or employee ID, or a letter on institutional letterhead proving your current affiliation. When validated, you are emailed a complimentary educational serial number for Adobe ColdFusion Standard. It can take up to two weeks after your request to receive the serial number.
One of the following documents must be uploaded during registration to prove eligibility:
- Student ID showing current enrollment
- Faculty ID showing current employment
- Employee ID showing current employment
- Statement on educational institution letterhead confirming student, employee, or faculty member status
Scanned copies must be formatted as a GIF or PDF file.
You can send a mail for up to 30 education serial numbers for student lab learning purposes.
Yes. Adobe ColdFusion Standard for education is available for purchase. The paid version of Adobe ColdFusion Standard for education does not have the restriction that it must be used only for learning purposes.
No. Platinum Maintenance and Support and Upgrade Plans are only available for purchase to customers who have a paid license for Adobe ColdFusion Standard.
Complimentary installation support is available. Developer or Technical Support plans for issues beyond installation support are available for purchase. Visit the U.S. Adobe support programs page http://www.adobe.com/support/programs or the U.K. Adobe support programs page http://www.adobe.com/support/programs/ for additional information.
Pricing, editions, and upgrading
ColdFusion 2016, 2018 and 2021 releases, easily migrate to Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release).
Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release) is available for purchase online from the Adobe Store and through our network of partners and resellers. View Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release) purchasing information.
Adobe ColdFusion (2023 release) is sold in two editions: Standard Edition costs US$2,499 per two cores, and Enterprise Edition costs US$9,499 per eight cores. ColdFusion can also be used for development at no cost with the complimentary Developer Edition, a full-featured server for development use only.
Adobe ColdFusion Enterprise (2023 release) is the solution for delivering high-performing websites and applications in a clustered or virtualized environment. Also, it provides deep insight into the performance of your websites and applications. Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release) is the solution for delivering a robust website with moderate volumes of traffic on a single server. Some features are available only with Adobe ColdFusion Enterprise (2023 release), and some features in Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release) are limited by performance through one shared simultaneous request. To learn more about the product editions, visit the product editions page.
Special upgrade pricing is available to those customers who have a valid ColdFusion (2021 release) license.
To upgrade to ColdFusion (2023 release) Enterprise, see http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion-enterprise/buying-guide.html
To upgrade to ColdFusion (2023 release) Standard, see http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion-standard/buying-guide.html
With ColdFusion Standard Edition, every containerized deployment needs to be licensed as per the ColdFusion End User Licensing Agreement (EULA). For instance, if ColdFusion is being deployed on two containers on a single VM instance, then both containers running ColdFusion will have to be licensed separately as per the ColdFusion EULA based on that VM instance being used.
You might be eligible for a complimentary upgrade to Adobe ColdFusion Standard (2023 release). To find out more, call Customer Service at 800-833-6687 or submit your request via the web.
If you have a current ColdFusion subscription or maintenance plan, you should have received an email or letter with instructions. If you did not, contact Customer Service and include your ColdFusion serial number in your request.
ColdFusion and Performance Monitoring Toolset
Control and optimize with the all-new, powerful Performance Monitoring Toolkit — a stand-alone server with low overhead. Use end-to-end visibility into your applications, to monitor and troubleshoot server, database, and network issues before they affect customers — in minutes.
Performance Monitoring Toolset is available as part of both Enterprise and Standard edition.
Performance Monitoring Toolset could be installed on the same machine as the Server but it is advised to install it on another machine to monitor the application.