Session variables and arrays in Classic ASP

A Session variable is a named value stored for one visitor's Classic ASP session. Store compact values such as a user ID, language choice or workflow flag rather than sensitive plaintext credentials or large objects.

Create a Session variable

Session("name") = name

Read a Session variable

Response.Write "Welcome " & Server.HTMLEncode(Session("name"))

Count Session values

Response.Write Session.Contents.Count

End or clear Session state

Session.Abandon ends the current session after the current request completes:

Session.Abandon

Remove all values while retaining the current session:

Session.Contents.RemoveAll

Or remove one named value:

Session.Contents.Remove("name")

Store an array in Session

Dim language(3)
language(0) = "ASP"
language(1) = "PHP"
language(2) = "Python"
language(3) = "JavaScript"

Assign the array to a Session item:

Session("my_languages") = language

Copy it back to a local variable:

Dim savedLanguages
savedLanguages = Session("my_languages")

Read one array element:

Response.Write Session("my_languages")(0)

Or loop through the stored array:

For Each item In Session("my_languages")
  Response.Write Server.HTMLEncode(item) & "<br>"
Next

Use Session state for access checks

If IsEmpty(Session("userid")) Then
  Response.Redirect "lg-login.php"
End If

For protected pages, redirecting unauthenticated users is usually clearer than rendering part of the protected page and then stopping execution.

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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