Why Are My PHP Sessions Disappearing After Redirects?

Resolving Lost PHP Sessions During Redirects

PHP sessions can vanish after redirects, causing frustration and issues. To resolve this problem effectively, follow these steps:

Common Checks:

1. Verify that "session_start();" is initiated before accessing any sessions. Place it at the document's beginning, after the "
2. Post-redirect, terminate the script using "exit();". You could also try "session_write_close();" or "session_regenerate_id(true)".
3. Check that browser cookies are empowered.
4. Ensure session integrity by verifying that it hasn't been cleared or nullified.
5. Verify that the "$_SESSION" array key isn't modified anywhere.
6. Redirect within the same domain. A redirect from "www.yourdomain.com" to "yourdomain.com" will discard the session.
7. Confirm that the file extension is ".php".
8. Examine PHP errors. A session failure may stem from an underlying error.
9. Utilize browser developer tools. Monitor the PHPSESSID cookie exchanged during requests. Mismatched values indicate cookie issues.
10. Inspect the cookie's "SameSite" attribute. Changing "Strict" to "Lax" may resolve issues with session cookie transmission.

Additional Considerations:

If the standard checks don't resolve the issue, consider your hosting provider:

Path Specification Issue:

Some hosting providers, such as FatCow and iPage, require specifying "session_save_path". Implement it as follows:

session_save_path('/your home directory path/'cgi-bin/tmp');
session_start();

Replace "/your home directory path/" with your actual home directory path. Check its existence within the root directory.

Server-Side Configuration:

Peruse the documentation and forums of your hosting provider for specific session management guidelines and requirements. They may necessitate server-side configurations that differ from local hosting environments.

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