What is MIME type "text/x-coldfusion"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

text/x-coldfusion is the MIME type for files that hold ColdFusion source code. It tells systems that the file contains server-side scripting language, blending HTML with CFML tags.
It is used to generate dynamic web pages on the server.

This MIME type signals a ColdFusion engine to run the embedded logic. It supports server-based actions like database queries, conditionals, and loops.
Code written with ColdFusion can easily integrate with client-side HTML and CSS.

Used for rapid web development on ColdFusion servers.
Enables dynamic content creation and automated responses.
Facilitates integration of web applications with databases.
Incorporates specialized CFML tags for logic processing.

Files associated with this MIME type include CFM, CFC, and CFML.

More information on ColdFusion can be found at Adobe ColdFusion.

Associated file extensions

.cfm, .cfc, .cfml

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: text/x-coldfusion

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="text/x-coldfusion">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/x-coldfusion');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.cfm, .cfc, .cfml

FAQs

What is the purpose of the text/x-coldfusion MIME type?

This MIME type identifies files containing ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) source code. It tells the web server that the file contains server-side logic, such as database queries or dynamic content generation, which must be processed by a ColdFusion engine before being sent to the user.

Why is my browser downloading the .cfm file instead of displaying the page?

If a browser downloads the file, your web server is likely missing the ColdFusion application server or the web server connector is misconfigured. The server is sending the raw text/x-coldfusion file to the client instead of executing the code and returning standard HTML.

How do I open or edit a file with the text/x-coldfusion type?

Since these files are text-based, you can open them with any code editor like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++. To actually run the code and see the resulting web page, you must host the file on a server running Adobe ColdFusion or an open-source engine like Lucee.

What file extensions are associated with text/x-coldfusion?

The most common extension is .cfm, which stands for ColdFusion Markup. Other associated extensions include .cfc for ColdFusion Components and .cfml.

Does the text/x-coldfusion MIME type work in all browsers?

Browsers do not execute ColdFusion code; they only render the HTML output generated by the server. Consequently, browsers should never actually receive a file with the Content-Type: text/x-coldfusion header unless the server is misconfigured or serving the source code for download.

How do I configure Apache to handle ColdFusion files?

You typically need to install the ColdFusion connector (often using mod_jk or mod_proxy_ajp) to bridge Apache with the ColdFusion engine (Tomcat). You must ensure your configuration handles extensions like .cfm and passes them to the application server rather than serving them as static text.

Is text/x-coldfusion a standard IANA MIME type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that it is a non-standard or experimental type defined by the vendor. While it is the de facto standard for identifying CFML files locally or within server configurations, it is not part of the official IANA registry.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.