PHP: Managing Persistent Sessions

Learn how to store persistent PHP session data in a SQL server and create an auto-login system that recognizes returning users.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• Sessions in Google Chrome

1. Sessions and Security

• How PHP sessions work
• Configuring session
• Changing session defaults
• Inspecting how session data is stored
• Implementing persistent sessions

2. Preparing the Database

• Creating a database and user account in MySQL
• Defining tables to store session data
• Connecting to the database

3. Storing Session Data in MySQL

• Implementing the PHP SessionHandlerInterface
• Opening a session and reading stored data
• Writing session data
• Closing the session and garbage collection
• Destroying the session
• Setting the session handler

4. Creating an Autologin System

• How the autologin system works
• Using a trait to define common properties
• Extending the MysqlSessionHandler class
• Creating a persistent login
• Checking a returning visitor's credentials
• Logging out

5. Testing the Autologin System

• Generating a unique key when registering users
• Using a PSR-4 class autoloader
• Authenticating the user
• Revalidating credentials for sensitive areas
• Logging out selectively

Conclusion

• Final thoughts