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How Do PHP Sessions Work? Video Lecture - IT & Software

FAQs on How Do PHP Sessions Work? Video Lecture - IT & Software

1. How do PHP sessions work?

Ans. PHP sessions work by creating a unique session ID for each visitor to a website. When a user visits a website, PHP assigns a unique session ID to that user. This session ID is stored in a cookie on the user's browser or passed through the URL. The session ID is then used to retrieve the user's session data, which is stored on the server. This allows PHP to maintain stateful information between page requests for a specific user.

2. How to start a PHP session?

Ans. To start a PHP session, you need to use the session_start() function. This function must be called before any output is sent to the browser. By calling session_start(), PHP will generate a unique session ID for the user and create a new session or resume an existing one. Once the session is started, you can store and retrieve data in the session using the $_SESSION superglobal array.

3. How long does a PHP session last?

Ans. By default, PHP sessions last until the user closes their browser. When the browser is closed, the session data is deleted. However, you can adjust the session duration by modifying the session.cookie_lifetime configuration in the PHP configuration file. By setting a specific duration, you can make the session last for a specific amount of time, even if the user closes their browser.

4. How to destroy a PHP session?

Ans. To destroy a PHP session and delete all session data, you can call the session_destroy() function. This function will effectively end the current session and delete the session data from the server. After calling session_destroy(), a new session can be started by calling session_start() again. It's important to note that session_destroy() only destroys the data associated with the current session, not the session ID itself.

5. Can PHP sessions be used to store sensitive information?

Ans. PHP sessions can be used to store sensitive information, but it's important to take proper security measures. By default, session data is stored on the server, making it more secure than storing data on the client-side. However, session data can still be vulnerable to attacks such as session hijacking or session fixation. To enhance the security of PHP sessions, you should consider using SSL/TLS encryption, regenerating session IDs after login or privilege changes, and properly sanitizing and validating session data before using it.

Text Transcript from Video

Tell me - how do PHP sessions work?
PHP creates a session by using the session
start function.
How does that get invoked?
The session start function comes before any
HTML code on a webpage.
So going to the website will start the session
start function.
That's a tongue twister.
Fortunately, PHP session processes are not
that complicated.
The session start function creates a session
ID placed in a cookie on the user's computer.
I hate cookies, except chocolate chip ones.
The cookie just tracks session information.
The default name for the session cookie is
PHPSESSID, though you can use a different
name.
What is the cookie used for?
Once a session is created, information can
be stored and retrieved regarding that session.
It could be everything from a log of user
activities to favorites to the status of the
shopping cart.
While the cookie tracks the user's activities,
where is the information about their activities
stored?
Aside from whatever files the NSA keeps, that
is.
Session files are usually stored in a temp
directory on the server.
So every time I refresh a browser window,
I put more cookies on my PC to slow it down.
If someone reloads that page, PHP recognizes
the existing session and does not start a
new one.
Whether or not the session can time out is
based on the time stamp of the cookie.
In which point, a new session gets created.
While the feds used cookies that tracked people's
activity, especially blank cookies put on
the user's PC when they were directed through
a fake proxy en route to the requested page,
not all cookies are bad.
Is that PHP too?
No, the NSA.
I thought it was the FBI or CIA.
They might have used PHP or another tool to
do it, but that's not the standard PHP session.
Or, at least, I hope it isn't.

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Mar 03, 2025 Last updated

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