Sessions and Cookies

stateless protocol

• Cookies

• Sessions

These technologies help websites maintain user information across multiple pages

Cookie

A _____ is a small piece of data stored on the user's browser.

Cookie

It allows websites to remember information even after the browser is closed

4 KB

Cookie can contain almost any alphanumeric information (as long as it’s under ____) and can be retrieved from your computer and returned to the server

cookie

The website sends a small text file called a _____ to the user’s browser, which is then stored on the user’s device

personalized experience

Cookies enables the website to identify the user and deliver a ______ by utilizing the information stored in the cookie. Cookies would allow websites to remember specific user settings and enhance the browsing experience during future visits

before

Cookies must be sent ____ any output from your script

Cookies

Data remains after browser closes, can remember user preferences and is easy to implement

Cookies

Stored on user’s computer, can be modified by users, has limited storage size (~4 KB), and not suitable for sensitive information

Session

A _____ stores information on the server rather than the user's browser

Session ID

In session, only a _____ is stored in the browser

Session

Because the data remains on the server, _____ are more secure

session_start()

must be placed before any HTML output

unset();

Removing one session variable

session_start();
session_destroy();

Used during logout

Session

Data stored on the server, more secured, can store larger information, and is best for authentication

Session

Consumes server resources, lost when session expired, and is usually removed after browser inactivity

header()

The ____ function is used to send a raw HTTP header to the browser before any output is displayed

Output

Important Rule: No ____ Before header()

• Sessions

• Header()

In real-world applications, they are almost always used together

• Session

• Cookie

• header()

• ____ = Who are you?

• ____= What do you prefer?

• ____ = Where should you go next?