session_start Initialize session data &reftitle.description; boolsession_start session_start creates a session or resumes the current one based on the current session id that's being passed via a request, such as GET, POST, or a cookie. If you want to use a named session, you must call session_name before calling session_start. session_start will register internal output handler for URL rewriting when trans-sid is enabled. If a user uses ob_gzhandler or like with ob_start, the order of output handler is important for proper output. For example, user must register ob_gzhandler before session start. &reftitle.returnvalues; This function returns &true; if session was started with success otherwise &false;. &reftitle.changelog; &Version; &Description; 5.3.0 If session fails to start for some reason, then &false; is returned where previously &true; always was returned. 4.3.3 As of now, calling session_start while the session has already been started will result in an error of level E_NOTICE. Also, the second session start will simply be ignored. &reftitle.examples; page 2'; // Or maybe pass along the session id, if needed echo '
page 2'; ?> ]]> After viewing page1.php, the second page page2.php will magically contain the session data. Read the session reference for information on propagating session ids as it, for example, explains what the constant SID is all about. '; echo $_SESSION['favcolor']; // green echo $_SESSION['animal']; // cat echo date('Y m d H:i:s', $_SESSION['time']); // You may want to use SID here, like we did in page1.php echo '
page 1'; ?> ]]> &reftitle.notes; If you are using cookie-based sessions, you must call session_start before anything is outputted to the browser. Use of zlib.output_compression is recommended rather than ob_gzhandler This function will send out several HTTP headers depending on the configuration. See session_cache_limiter to customize these headers. &reftitle.seealso; $_SESSION The session.auto_start configuration directive session_id