Important
- Before storing or accessing session data, it’s essential to start or resume the session using
session_start(). - Data is stored in the
$_SESSIONsuperglobal array, using associative keys to identify the stored values. - Session data persists until the session is explicitly destroyed or expires due to inactivity.
| $_SESSION | Cookies |
|---|---|
| Stores data on the server side | Stores data on the client side |
| Persists until the session ends | Can have an expiration date |
| Suitable for sensitive data | Limited in size and can be manipulated by the client |
How to store data in a PHP Session?
In PHP, sessions provide a way to persist data across multiple page requests for a single user. Storing data in a session allows developers to maintain user-specific information such as login status, user preferences, shopping cart items, etc.