We’ll talk about PHP Sessions today. A PHP session is used rather than storing data on the user’s computer. Prior to these, we also covered Forms in PHP, Registration Forms Using Form Tags, PHP Operators, and PHP Cookies. If you don’t know about these, then act quickly!
What Research Says About PHP Session
Sessions generally refer to a time period during which two media can communicate. Instead of storing data on the user’s computer, a PHP session is used. Every user in a session-based environment is identified by their unique session identifier or SID. The SID is used to connect the user with their server-based data, such as posts, emails, and so forth.
In order to use user data across multiple pages, session variables store user information to address this issue (e.g. userid, favorite car, etc). Session variables typically persist until the user closes the browser.
NOTE: If you require long-term storage, you might want to put the information in a database.
Start a PHP Session
With the session_start() function, a session can be started.
PHP’s $_SESSION global variable is used to set session variables.
Let’s now make a brand-new page called “try session.php.” We create a new PHP session and set a few session variables on this page:
<?php // Start the session session_start(); ?> <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <?php // Set session variables $_SESSION["favbike"] = "honda"; $_SESSION["favcar"] = "audi"; echo "Session variables are set."; ?> </body> </html>
OUTPUT: Session variables are set.
Remember that, Use the isset() function to determine whether a session variable has already been set.
Here, Your document needs to start with the session start() function. ahead of all HTML tags.
How is PHP Session implemented? How does it recognize me?
Most sessions create a user key that appears something like this on the user’s computer: 765487bdsabd365sdvdv412. The computer is then scanned for a user key when a session is opened on a different page. If a match is found, it accesses that session; otherwise, a new session is started.
Destroy a PHP Session
Use session_unset() and session_destroy() to delete all global session variables and end the current session:
<?php
session_start();
session_destroy();
?>
Working with PHP session variables
You can store session data in variables by using the associative array $_SESSION. Assume, for instance, that you want to add a very basic hit counter to a page. This cannot be accomplished using a simple HTML page. But it’s simple with PHP sessions. One example of how to do this is shown in the following code sample:
<?php session_start(); $_SESSION['times']++; ?> <html> <head> <title>Simple page times counter</title> </head> <body> <p>You have visited this page <?php print $_SESSION['times'] ?> times.</p> </body> </html>
In this illustration, a variable called times is defined and stored in the $_SESSION array. The time’s value rises by one each time the page is loaded.
The $_SESSION array of PHP session variables can easily be expanded. All you need to do is make a reference to the variable name you want to use; PHP will handle the rest and track the value of the variable over several HTTP connections.
Activating Auto Session
If you can set a session, you won’t need to call the start_session() function when a user accesses your website. Set the auto start variable in the php.ini file to 1.
Summary of PHP Session Explained
- Instead of storing data on the user’s computer, a PHP session is used.
- Every user in a session-based environment is identified by their unique session identifier or SID.
- Start a PHP Session, With the session_start() function, a session can be started.
- We create a new PHP session and set a few session variables on this page: Use the isset() function to determine whether a session variable has already been set.
- The computer is then scanned for a user key when a session is opened on a different page.
- Destroy a PHP Session, Use session unset() and session_destroy() to delete all global session variables and end the current session: Working with PHP session variables you can store session data in variables by using the associative array $_SESSION.
- Assume, for instance, that you want to add a very basic hit counter to a page.
- But it’s simple with PHP sessions.
- The $_SESSION array of PHP session variables can easily be expanded.
- Set the auto start variable in the php.ini file to 1.