Destroy a session when user clicks on the [X] button

cesar110

I have an application that uses sessions. If the users keep the browser open and do nothing, the session dies after 24mints. (The default time out in php.ini). If they click logout, the session gets destroyed. However, if they click on the [x] of the browser, the session stays alive, it does not get destroyed. How can I tell the server that if the user clicked on the [x] and closed the browser, it has to destroy the session?

I read a lot on ajax solutions with javascript and there is no window.onclose() that will help. The onunload() function does not do what I need. I understand that php is a server side script and javascript is a client side; but, is there any “trick” in php that can detect if the user clicks on the [x] on the browser? and if so, destroy/unset the session? Any advice would be highly appreciate it. I just need to keep track of when the user start and end the session.

bradgrafelman

cesar110 wrote:
is there any “trick” in php that can detect if the user clicks on the [x] on the browser?

No, seeing as how PHP doesn't know what a browser is, or a window, etc.

If the session remains inactive for a certain period of time, the garbage cleanup routine will detect this and remove the session file.

NogDog

If you set the session cookie expiration time to 0 (zero), then it will remain active until the user closes the browser, at which point it will be immediately expired.

Weedpacket

To expand on the two previous posts; it has to be remembered that both parties to the session have to hold their ends up for it to remain live. If either drops it (the server if the session has been idle for too long, or if the user logged out; the client if it is closed) then the session is dead, and will eventually be cleaned up.