Troubleshooting PHP Session Data Loss

PHP sessions are a valuable tool for storing and retrieving data across multiple pages. However, issues can arise when sessions are unexpectedly lost or not properly saved.

In this specific case, a user encountered a peculiar situation where session data was not being retained after page refreshes. Investigation revealed no apparent changes to the PHP scripts.

To determine the root cause, the user provided valuable information from their host's server, including the PHP version (4.4.7) and phpinfo() output.

Upon further exploration, the user discovered that their host had recently changed servers, resulting in a new session save path. The previously defined path, /var/php_sessions, no longer existed.

As a solution, the host explicitly set the session path to a valid and writable directory. This resolved the issue, ensuring that session data was properly stored and retrieved.

This case highlights the importance of considering the server configuration and potential changes that can impact PHP session behavior. For troubleshooting similar issues, checking the session save path and ensuring it is correctly configured is crucial.