http://livedocs.adobe.com/ Macromedia LiveDocs - online documentation with user feedback. Copyright 2009, Macromedia, Inc. 2009-11-25T18:09:42 en-us http://livedocs.adobe.com/coldfusion/6.1/htmldocs/variab34.htm#21090 variables are different by their contents and lifetime.<br /><br />BECAUSE they are stored, and maintained differently in server's memory. Try to use <cfdump var="#varName#"/><br /><br />create different variable such as simple variable<br /><cfset mySimpleVar = "John"/><br /><cfdump var"#mySimpleVar #"/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br />complex varibale<br /><cfscript><br /> employee = StructNew();<br /> StructInsert(employee, "firstname", "John");<br /> StructInsert(employee, "lastname", "Smith");<br /> StructInsert(employee, "email", "me@emial.com");<br /> StructInsert(employee, "phone", "(416) 777-7777");<br /> StructInsert(employee, "department", "HR");<br /> </cfscript><br /><br /><cfdump var"#employee#"/><br /><br/><br /><br /><br />---------<br />About varibale lifetime (scope), I should say you need to study variable scope.<br />Its like writing the value on sand ! or a peace of paper.<br />Yes, they are mostly on the server's memory (sometimes registry), but different parts of the memory are maintained DIFFERENTLY. Some expire after you close your browser window some expire when server restart , some expire after a period of time.<br /><br />related links:<br />About scopes :: http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/6.1/htmldocs/variab34.htm#wp1100240<br />Data types :: http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/6.1/htmldocs/variabl5.htm#wp1122027<br />StructNew() :: http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/6.1/htmldocs/funca103.htm#wp1113520 cf_Amir 0 0 2004-09-08T09:55:34 http://livedocs.adobe.com/coldfusion/6.1/htmldocs/variab34.htm#17640 "variables differ in the source of their data": what does that mean? That is like saying the jars in my refrigerator differ in the source of their contents? What does the source have to do with it? It's the difference in the contents the important thing? Secondly, the statement is confused: the variables differ because of a property of something other than the variables. The variables don't differ, it's the contents of the variables that differ. If I'm wrong about that, please explain.<br /><br />"How long their values persist" is usually called "lifetime". And, it's not just the value that persists, but the variable itself. a440guy 0 0 2004-06-24T14:56:47