Wheels Routing Generator

When to Use This Skill

Activate automatically when:

User wants to create routes
User mentions: routes, routing, URL structure, RESTful
User needs nested resources
User wants custom route patterns
User asks about URL mapping or route constraints

Routes Configuration File

Location: /config/routes.cfm

cfm

<cfscript>
// Basic structure
mapper()
    // Your routes here
.end();
</cfscript>

Basic Route Patterns

Simple Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // GET request to /about -> Pages.about()
    .get(name="about", pattern="about", to="pages##about")

    // POST request to /contact -> Pages.contact()
    .post(name="contact", pattern="contact", to="pages##contact")

    // Multiple HTTP verbs
    .match(name="search", pattern="search", to="posts##search", methods="GET,POST")

    // Route with parameter
    .get(name="post", pattern="posts/[key]", to="posts##show")

    // Root route (home page)
    .root(to="pages##index")
.end();
</cfscript>

RESTful Resources

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Complete RESTful resource
    // Creates 7 routes: index, new, create, show, edit, update, delete
    .resources("posts")

    // Limit to specific actions
    .resources(name="comments", only="index,show")
    .resources(name="photos", except="delete")
.end();
</cfscript>

Generated Routes for .resources("posts"):

HTTP Verb	Path	Action	Purpose
GET	/posts	index	List all posts
GET	/posts/new	new	Show create form
POST	/posts	create	Create new post
GET	/posts/[key]	show	Show single post
GET	/posts/[key]/edit	edit	Show edit form
PATCH/PUT	/posts/[key]	update	Update post
DELETE	/posts/[key]	delete	Delete post

Nested Resources

Parent-Child Resources

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Posts with nested comments
    .resources("posts")
    .resources(name="comments", nested=true)

    // /posts/1/comments - shows comments for post 1
    // /posts/1/comments/2 - shows comment 2 for post 1
.end();
</cfscript>

Multiple Level Nesting

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Blog -> Post -> Comments
    .resources("blogs")
    .resources(name="posts", nested=true)
    .resources(name="comments", nested=true)

    // /blogs/1/posts/2/comments/3
.end();
</cfscript>

Shallow Nesting (Recommended)

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Nested for creation only
    .resources("posts")
    .resources(name="comments", nested=true, only="new,create")

    // Standalone for viewing/editing
    .resources("comments", except="new,create")

    // Result:
    // POST /posts/1/comments (create with parent context)
    // GET /comments/1 (view without deep nesting)
    // PATCH /comments/1 (update without deep nesting)
.end();
</cfscript>

Custom Route Patterns

Named Routes with Parameters

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Single parameter
    .get(name="userProfile", pattern="users/[username]", to="users##show")

    // Multiple parameters
    .get(
        name="blogPost",
        pattern="[year]/[month]/[slug]",
        to="posts##show"
    )

    // Optional parameters
    .get(
        name="search",
        pattern="search/[[category]]/[[tag]]",
        to="search##index"
    )
.end();
</cfscript>

Wildcard Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Catch-all pattern (use sparingly!)
    .get(
        name="pages",
        pattern="pages/[*path]",
        to="pages##show"
    )
    // Matches: /pages/about, /pages/help/faq, etc.
.end();
</cfscript>

Route Constraints

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Numeric constraint
    .get(
        name="post",
        pattern="posts/[key]",
        to="posts##show",
        constraints={key="[0-9]+"}
    )

    // Alpha constraint
    .get(
        name="tag",
        pattern="tags/[slug]",
        to="tags##show",
        constraints={slug="[a-z-]+"}
    )

    // Date constraint
    .get(
        name="archive",
        pattern="[year]/[month]",
        to="posts##archive",
        constraints={
            year="[0-9]{4}",
            month="[0-9]{2}"
        }
    )
.end();
</cfscript>

Namespace and Scoped Routes

Controller Namespace

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Admin section
    .namespace("admin")
        .resources("users")
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("settings")
    .endNamespace()

    // Maps to:
    // /admin/users -> admin.Users.index()
    // /admin/posts/1 -> admin.Posts.show(key=1)
.end();
</cfscript>

Path Scoping

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Scope multiple routes under a path
    .scope(path="api/v1", module="api.v1")
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("comments")
    .endScope()

    // Maps to:
    // /api/v1/posts -> api.v1.Posts.index()
    // /api/v1/comments -> api.v1.Comments.index()
.end();
</cfscript>

API Versioning Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // API v1
    .scope(path="api/v1", module="api.v1")
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("users")
    .endScope()

    // API v2
    .scope(path="api/v2", module="api.v2")
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("users")
    .endScope()

    // Latest (redirects to current version)
    .get(name="apiLatest", pattern="api/[*path]", to="api##redirectToLatest")
.end();
</cfscript>

RESTful Member and Collection Routes

Member Routes (Single Resource)

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    .resources("posts")
        // Custom actions on single post
        .member(name="publish", to="posts##publish", method="patch")
        .member(name="archive", to="posts##archive", method="post")
    .endResources()

    // Maps to:
    // PATCH /posts/1/publish
    // POST /posts/1/archive
.end();
</cfscript>

Collection Routes (All Resources)

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    .resources("posts")
        // Custom actions on collection
        .collection(name="search", to="posts##search", method="get")
        .collection(name="export", to="posts##export", method="get")
    .endResources()

    // Maps to:
    // GET /posts/search
    // GET /posts/export
.end();
</cfscript>

Route Helpers in Controllers

Generating URLs

cfm

// In controllers/views
urlFor(route="post", key=1)
// -> /posts/1

urlFor(route="editPost", key=1)
// -> /posts/1/edit

urlFor(route="posts")
// -> /posts

// With query parameters
urlFor(route="posts", params={tag="rails", page=2})
// -> /posts?tag=rails&page=2

// Absolute URLs
urlFor(route="post", key=1, onlyPath=false)
// -> http://yoursite.com/posts/1

Redirecting

cfm

// Redirect to named route
redirectTo(route="posts")
redirectTo(route="post", key=1)

// Redirect with flash
redirectTo(route="posts", success="Post created!")

Link Helpers in Views

cfm

// Link to route
#linkTo(route="posts", text="All Posts")#

// Link with parameters
#linkTo(route="post", key=postId, text=post.title)#

// Link with HTML attributes
#linkTo(route="post", key=1, text="Read More", class="btn btn-primary")#

Form Routes

cfm

<cfoutput>
    <!-- Create form -->
    #startFormTag(route="posts", method="post")#
        <!-- form fields -->
    #endFormTag()#

    <!-- Update form -->
    #startFormTag(route="post", key=post.id, method="patch")#
        <!-- form fields -->
    #endFormTag()#

    <!-- Delete link -->
    #linkTo(
        route="post",
        key=post.id,
        method="delete",
        text="Delete",
        confirm="Are you sure?"
    )#
</cfoutput>

Advanced Routing Patterns

Subdomain Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Admin subdomain
    .scope(subdomain="admin")
        .resources("users")
        .resources("settings")
    .endScope()

    // API subdomain
    .scope(subdomain="api")
        .resources("posts")
    .endScope()

    // Wildcard subdomain
    .scope(subdomain="[account]")
        .root(to="accounts##dashboard")
        .resources("projects")
    .endScope()
.end();
</cfscript>

Redirect Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Permanent redirect
    .redirect(from="old-blog", to="posts", statusCode=301)

    // Redirect to external URL
    .redirect(
        from="docs",
        to="https://docs.yoursite.com",
        statusCode=302
    )
.end();
</cfscript>

Route Concerns (Reusable Route Sets)

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // Define concern
    .concern(name="commentable")
        .resources(name="comments", nested=true)
    .endConcern()

    // Use concern
    .resources("posts")
        .concerns("commentable")
    .endResources()

    .resources("photos")
        .concerns("commentable")
    .endResources()

    // Both posts and photos now have comments routes
.end();
</cfscript>

Testing Routes

View All Routes

cfm

// Create a test action
function testRoutes() {
    routes = application.wheels.routes;
    writeDump(routes);
    abort;
}

Check Route Mapping

cfm

// Test if route exists
if (structKeyExists(application.wheels.namedRoutes, "post")) {
    // Route exists
}

// Get route pattern
pattern = application.wheels.namedRoutes.post.pattern;

Route Best Practices

✅ DO:

Use RESTful conventions (resources)
Keep nesting shallow (max 2 levels)
Use named routes for flexibility
Add route constraints for validation
Group related routes with scopes
Use proper HTTP verbs
Follow REST conventions consistently

❌ DON'T:

Over-nest resources (avoid /a/b/c/d/e)
Use catch-all routes carelessly
Hardcode URLs in code (use urlFor)
Mix REST and non-REST patterns
Create ambiguous routes
Forget route constraints on IDs
Use GET for destructive actions

Common Route Patterns

Blog Application

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    .root(to="posts##index")

    // Public routes
    .get(name="about", pattern="about", to="pages##about")
    .get(name="contact", pattern="contact", to="pages##contact")
    .post(name="contactSubmit", pattern="contact", to="pages##sendContact")

    // Blog routes
    .resources("posts", only="index,show")
    .get(name="archive", pattern="archive/[year]/[month]", to="posts##archive")
    .get(name="tag", pattern="tags/[slug]", to="posts##byTag")

    // Admin section
    .namespace("admin")
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("comments")
        .resources("tags")
    .endNamespace()

    // Authentication
    .get(name="login", pattern="login", to="sessions##new")
    .post(name="sessionCreate", pattern="login", to="sessions##create")
    .delete(name="logout", pattern="logout", to="sessions##delete")
.end();
</cfscript>

E-commerce Application

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    .root(to="products##index")

    // Products
    .resources("products", only="index,show")
    .get(name="category", pattern="categories/[slug]", to="products##category")

    // Shopping cart
    .get(name="cart", pattern="cart", to="cart##show")
    .post(name="addToCart", pattern="cart/add", to="cart##add")
    .delete(name="removeFromCart", pattern="cart/remove/[key]", to="cart##remove")

    // Checkout
    .get(name="checkout", pattern="checkout", to="checkout##index")
    .post(name="processCheckout", pattern="checkout", to="checkout##process")

    // User account
    .get(name="account", pattern="account", to="users##show")
    .resources("orders", only="index,show")

    // Admin
    .namespace("admin")
        .resources("products")
        .resources("orders")
        .resources("customers")
    .endNamespace()
.end();
</cfscript>

API Routes

cfm

<cfscript>
mapper()
    // API v1
    .scope(path="api/v1", module="api.v1")
        // Resources with token auth
        .resources("posts")
        .resources("comments")
        .resources("users", except="new,edit")

        // Custom endpoints
        .post(name="apiLogin", pattern="auth/login", to="auth##login")
        .post(name="apiLogout", pattern="auth/logout", to="auth##logout")
        .get(name="apiProfile", pattern="me", to="users##profile")
    .endScope()
.end();
</cfscript>

Debugging Routes

List All Routes

Add to a controller:

cfm

function listRoutes() {
    routes = [];

    for (local.key in application.wheels.namedRoutes) {
        local.route = application.wheels.namedRoutes[local.key];
        arrayAppend(routes, {
            name = local.key,
            pattern = local.route.pattern,
            controller = local.route.controller,
            action = local.route.action,
            methods = local.route.methods
        });
    }

    writeDump(routes);
    abort;
}

Test Route Generation

cfm

// Test in view/controller
<cfdump var="##urlFor(route='post', key=1)##">
<cfdump var="##urlFor(route='posts')##">

Related Skills

wheels-controller-generator: Create controllers for routes
wheels-api-generator: Create API routes
wheels-view-generator: Create views for routes
wheels-test-generator: Test routing

Generated by: Wheels Routing Generator Skill v1.0