Most websites need reliable session handling to keep users logged in, preserve state between requests, and support features like shopping carts or dashboards.
The default PHP session system works, but only to a point. It is simple and fast, but lacks structure, configurability, and visibility. On the other end, distributed systems like Redis or Memcached can be overkill unless you truly need them.
I design and build complete session management systems in PHP, typically based on a flat-file architecture for current sessions, optionally combined with a database for expired or historical data. This is the exact setup running on this site.
My Approach
- Lightweight flat file storage -- Active sessions are stored in flat files for speed and simplicity. No external dependencies, no extra latency, no complex setup.
- Optional database archiving -- When sessions expire, they can be automatically archived to a database for analysis, debugging, or auditing, without affecting live performance.
- Unique session IDs -- Each session is tied to a unique identifier, such as UTID, UUID, or another format depending on project needs.
- Secure cookie handling -- Sessions are carried by cookies with configurable name, expiration, and path. If a cookie is missing or invalid, a new session is automatically created.
- Validation and event logging -- Events such as "session not found" or "validation mismatch" are logged in structured form. This makes issues diagnosable rather than silent.
- Structured data -- Sessions can include extra metadata, such as user details, pricing and checkout info, application state, or A/B testing variables.
- Geolocation support -- One such meta detail is country code, resolved from IP address using a dependency-injected geolocation service. This service is optional and swappable.
- Extensible architecture -- Interfaces and dependency injection make the system clean and maintainable. Features like custom IDs, metadata, or event logging can be extended or replaced without breaking the core.
What I Offer
Consulting and Setup
I can design and implement a complete session handling system for your project:
- Plan which bits of data to store and log (and which not).
- Design a session file format that is storage efficient, human readable, and fast to parse.
- Intergrate session management into your existing codebase.
- Help define processes for operations, including backup, archival, monitoring, and analytics.
Custom Development
I can extend standard session handling to fit your project’s needs:
- Add extra metadata fields.
- Integrate sessions with existing logging or monitoring systems.
- Build admin tools for session inspection and management.
- Optimize garbage collection and cleanup strategies.
Why Work With Me?
- 15+ years PHP experience and following best practices
- Proven in production -- My session libraries power live sites, including this one
- Pragmatic approach -- I recommend solutions for your actual needs, not unnecessary complexity
- Clean architecture -- I build software that is easy to maintain by the people who come after me
Get in Touch
If you would like to discuss session management for your project, contact me.