Using the DateFormat Function

Use the DateFormat( ) function to display dates in a variety of ways. Its syntax is:

DateFormat(DateValue [, mask ])

• Place a DateValue to format within the function's parenthesis ( ).
• DateValue may be a fixed or variable value.

When the DateValue is a fixed value, surround it with double quotes (" ) so that ColdFusion does not interpret it as a numeric value.

• Define an optional mask to describe the date display order and filter.

For example, a mask may describe dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy.

Surround the mask value with double quotes (" ) so that ColdFusion interprets it as a character string.

• Use a comma (,) to Separate the DateValue from the mask.

DateFormat function usage examples

The code below formats the current system date on a North American site:

<CFOUTPUT>
    #DateFormat(Now(),"DD/MM/YY")#
</CFOUTPUT>

• The Now( ) function is the DateValue.
• The comma (,) separates the DateValue from the mask.
• The mask tells ColdFusion to format the current value of Now as day/month/year.
• The double quotes (" ) tell ColdFusion that the mask value is not numeric.

The code below formats the StartDate column data that was returned from a query performed earlier on the same page:

<CFOUTPUT QUERY=EmpList>
    #DateFormat(StartDate)#<BR>
</CFOUTPUT>

• DateFormat( ) formats the query variable for display.
• Surround the entire function with pound signs (#) for immediate output.

To format dates for display:

1. Return to the page that you're building.
2. Format the StartDate query data using the DateFormat() function within the existing TD block:

#DateFormat(StartDate)#

3. Save the file.
4. View the page in a browser.

The StartDate is formatted for page display.

Click here to see how the page should look at this time.

Click here to see the code behind the scenes.

Note:

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