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session_unset() vs session_destroy() in PHP

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There are two very similar PHP function session_destroy() & session_unset(). Both seem to delete all variables registered to a session but there is difference between them.

session_destroy() function: It destroys all of the data associated with the current session. It does not unset any of the global variables associated with the session, or unset the session cookie.

Syntax:

bool session_destroy( void )

session_unset() function: It deletes only the variables from session and session still exists. Only data is truncated.

Syntax:

bool session_unset( void )

Example 1: This example saving the session by using session.php file.




<?php
  
// Function to start session
session_start();
  
// Display the session id
echo session_id();
  
// Check the session name exists or not
if( isset($_SESSION['name']) ) {
    echo '<br>' . 'session is set.';
}
else {
    echo '<br>' . 'session is destroyed';
}
  
$_SESSION['name'] = 'GeeksForGeeks';
$_SESSION['email'] = 'GeeksForGeeks@email.com' ;
  
?>


Output:

Before using session_unset() function: Before using the session function it displaying the name and email.




<?php
  
// Function to start session
session_start();
   
// Check the session name exists or not
if( isset($_SESSION['name']) ) {
    echo 'session is set.';
}
else {
    echo 'please set the session';
}
   
echo $_SESSION['name'].'<br>';
echo $_SESSION['email'].'<br>';
  
?>


Output:

After using session_unset() function: This function destroys the variables like ‘name’ and ’email’ which are using.




<?php
  
// Function to start session
session_start();
   
// Check the session name exists or not
if( isset($_SESSION['name']) ) {
    echo 'session is set.' ;
}
else {
    echo 'session variables deleted';
}
  
echo $_SESSION['name'];
echo $_SESSION['email'];
  
// Use session_unset() function
session_unset();
  
?>


Output:

session_destroy() function: It destroys the whole session rather destroying the variables. When session_start() is called, PHP sets the session cookie in browser. We need to delete the cookies also to completely destroy the session.

Example: This example is used to destroying the session.




<?php
  
// Function to start session
session_start();
  
// Check the session name exists or not
if( isset($_SESSION['name']) ) {
    echo 'session is set.'.'<br>' ;
}
else {
    echo 'session is destroyed'.'<br>';
}
  
echo $_SESSION['name'].'<br>';
echo $_SESSION['email'].'<br>';
  
$_SESSION = array();
  
// If it's desired to kill the session, also
// delete the session cookie.
// Note: This will destroy the session, and
// not just the session data!
if (ini_get("session.use_cookies")) {
    $params = session_get_cookie_params();
    setcookie(session_name(), '', time() - 42000,
        $params["path"], $params["domain"],
        $params["secure"], $params["httponly"]
    );
}
  
// Finally, destroy the session.
session_destroy();
  
?>


Output:

The execution of session.php file you can see that there is a different session ID it means the previous session has been destroyed and all variables and cookies also destroyed. Since all variables destroyed so PHP go to else condition output ‘session is destroyed’.

Note: If it’s desired to kill the session, also delete the session cookie. This will destroy the session, and not just the session data.



Last Updated : 14 Mar, 2019
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