(PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)
session_unset — Free all session variables
The session_unset() function frees all session variables currently registered.
This function has no parameters.
| Version | Description |
|---|---|
| 7.2.0 | The return type of this function is bool now. Formerly, it has been void . |
Note:
If $_SESSION is used, use unset() to unregister a session variable, i.e.
unset($_SESSION['varname']);.
Do NOT unset the whole $_SESSION with
unset($_SESSION) as this will disable the registering
of session variables through the $_SESSION superglobal.
Note:
The use of session_unset() is identical to
$_SESSION = [].
This function works only if a session is active. It will not clear the
$_SESSION array if the session has not been started yet
or has already been destroyed. Use $_SESSION = [] to unset all
session variables even if the session is not active.
I was having a problem clearing all session variables, deleting the session, and creating a new session without leaving old session stuff behind in all browsers. The below code is perfect for a logout script to totally delete everything and start new. It even works in Chrome which seems to not work as other browsers when trying do logout and start a new session.
<?php
session_start();
session_unset();
session_destroy();
session_write_close();
setcookie(session_name(),'',0,'/');
session_regenerate_id(true);
?>The difference between both session_unset and session_destroy is as follows:
session_unset just clears out the session for usage. The session is still on the users computer. Note that by using session_unset, the variable still exists. session_unset just remove all session variables. it does not destroy the session....so the session would still be active.
Using session_unset in tandem with session_destroy however, is a much more effective means of actually clearing out data. As stated in the example above, this works very well, cross browser. session_destroy is destroy the session. session_destroy() to kill all session information.....This is the more secure function to use.The solution provided by tim at leethost dot com is nice but you must check a active session first, because else you fill the logs with PHP Errors or Notices depending on your settings. I use it as a function, and it works smooth.
```php
/** @return void */
public static function sayonara():void
{
if (session_status() !== PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE) :void
{
session_start();
session_unset();
session_destroy();
session_write_close();
setcookie(session_name(), '', 0, '/');
session_regenerate_id(true);
}
}
sayonara();
```