User Guide

668 Chapter 3: ColdFusion Functions
IsDate
Description
Determines whether a string or Java object can be converted to a date/time value.
Returns
True, if string can be converted to a date/time value; False, otherwise. ColdFusion converts the
Boolean return value to its string equivalent, "Yes" or "No."
Category
Date and time functions, Decision functions
Function syntax
IsDate(string)
See also
CreateDateTime
, IsNumericDate, IsValid, LSDateFormat, LSIsDate, ParseDateTime
Parameters
Usage
This function checks against U.S. date formats only. For other date support, see LSDateFormat.
A date/time object falls in the range 100 AD–9999 AD.
Example
<h3>IsDate Example</h3>
<cfif IsDefined("FORM.theTestValue")>
<cfif IsDate(FORM.theTestValue)>
<h3>The string <cfoutput>#DE(FORM.theTestValue)#</cfoutput>
is a valid date</h3>
<cfelse>
<h3>The string <cfoutput>#DE(FORM.theTestValue)#</cfoutput>
is not a valid date</h3>
</cfif>
</cfif>
<form action = "isDate.cfm">
<p>Enter a string, find whether it can be evaluated to a date value.
<p><input type = "Text" name = "TheTestValue" value = "<cfoutput>#Now()#
</cfoutput>">
<input type = "Submit" value = "Is it a Date?" name = "">
</form>
Parameter Description
string A string or a variable that contains one.