ColdFusion

ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform designed for building dynamic websites and web services. It uses CFML, a high-level scripting language that can be embedded in HTML and written in a tag-based syntax as well as in a script syntax. ColdFusion runs on a server and generates HTML or other responses sent to clients, often emphasizing quick integration with databases and enterprise systems.

The product originated in the 1990s with Allaire Corporation as ColdFusion. It was acquired by Macromedia in 2001 and later by Adobe Systems in 2005. Over time, ColdFusion evolved from a Windows-centric tool to a cross-platform server that runs on Java and can be deployed in various environments, frequently alongside mainstream web servers.

ColdFusion programs are built using CFML components called ColdFusion Components (CFCs), which support object-oriented techniques and component-based development. CFML provides a wide range of built-in tags and functions for database access, form handling, email, file I/O, and web services. Developers can write in tag-based syntax (for example, cfset, cfquery, cfif) or in CFScript, and ColdFusion can natively expose REST and SOAP services and integrate with Java libraries.

Deployment and ecosystem options include running ColdFusion as a standalone server or behind a web server such as Apache or IIS. It is cross-platform, supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS. The ecosystem also includes open-source alternatives like Lucee, a CFML engine compatible with much of ColdFusion’s syntax and features, offering a free option alongside Adobe’s commercial product.

Today, Adobe markets ColdFusion as an actively maintained commercial platform with regular updates. It remains in use in enterprise environments that require rapid development, strong database integration, and easy maintenance of legacy systems.