How to Use Session Variables in Wordpress

How do you use session variables in wordpress?

Replace:

global $wp_session;

With:

$wp_session = WP_Session::get_instance();

Make sure you add $wp_session = WP_Session::get_instance(); before you try to echo the variable on page 2.

How to use session without using $_SESSION in wordpress

Use the init hook to session_start() is working fine on normal server without WP Engine.

Example code:

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: Session plugin.
 */

add_action('init', 'sesp_init');
function sesp_init()
{
    if (session_status() === PHP_SESSION_NONE) {
        session_start();
    }
    $_SESSION['hello'] = 'world';
}

add_action('template_redirect', 'sesp_template');
function sesp_template()
{
    echo 'hello ' . $_SESSION['hello'].'<br>';
}

It say hello world on the front pages.

WP_Session

The class WP_Session is not WordPress core class. I couldn't find this class anywhere in WordPress core files except WP_Session_Token but that is not for session usage.

The class WP_Session is from WP Session Manager plugin (refer from this question). You have to install that plugin to access WP_Session. Otherwise this error will be occur.

Class WP_Session not found

Use Transients.

From the document.

WordPress Transients API, which offers a simple and standardized way of storing cached data in the database temporarily

So, you can use it as alternative if session_start() is not really work and you don't want to install other plugin.

Example code:

add_action('init', 'sesp_init');
function sesp_init()
{
    set_transient('sesp_hello', 'moon', 60*5);// 5 minutes.
}

add_action('template_redirect', 'sesp_template');
function sesp_template()
{
    echo 'hello ' . get_transient('sesp_hello') . ' (use transient).<br>';
}

You don't need to hook into init to set transient. The code above is for example. The third argument in set_transient() is expiration in seconds.

Transient Warning!

However, the transient is not for one visitor like the session. You have to set and check properly that the transient you are getting and setting is match for a person.

WP Engine

From their support page.

The biggest problem this presents is due to the unique session IDs. Unique IDs effectively bust cache and causes every session to become uncached. This will cause serious performance issues for your site.

You may switch to use PHP cookie or disable WP Engine cache. This was answered here.

Set and retrieve the session values wordpress

You can do using following code.

Add below code in your theme's functions.php file

function register_session_new(){
    if( ! session_id() ) {
       session_start();
     }
 }

add_action('init', 'register_session_new');
$_SESSION['menu_lang'] = "english";

Use this line in your mini-cart.php file or wherever you want to use.

echo $_SESSION['menu_lang'] ;

Wordpress session variable not working

Just hook a function on "init" in your functions.php like this :

function ur_theme_start_session()
{
    if (!session_id())
        session_start();
}
add_action("init", "ur_theme_start_session", 1);

Then u can use your session variables.

I hope that help u.

How to get session variables in wordpress plugins

You need to add <?php session_start(); ?> at beginning of my_page.php

After that for destroying session you can use wp_logout action in wordpress. code is as follows

<?php function custom_unset_session() {
   // your code 
   unset($_SESSION['tag']);
} 
add_action('wp_logout', 'custom_unset_session');
?>

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