# session_register

(PHP 4, PHP 5)

session_register — Register one or more global variables with the current session

### Description

bool session_register ( mixed `$name` [, mixed `$...` ] )

session_register() accepts a variable number of arguments, any of which can be either a string holding the name of a variable or an array consisting of variable names or other arrays. For each name, session_register() registers the global variable with that name in the current session.

You can also create a session variable by simply setting the appropriate member of the $_SESSION or $HTTP_SESSION_VARS (PHP < 4.1.0) array.

`<?php
// Use of session_register() is deprecated
$barney = "A big purple dinosaur.";
session_register("barney");
// Use of $_SESSION is preferred, as of PHP 4.1.0
$_SESSION["zim"] = "An invader from another planet.";
// The old way was to use $HTTP_SESSION_VARS
$HTTP_SESSION_VARS["spongebob"] = "He's got square pants.";
?>`

If session_start() was not called before this function is called, an implicit call to session_start() with no parameters will be made. $_SESSION does not mimic this behavior and requires session_start() before use.

### Parameters

`name`

  A string holding the name of a variable or an array consisting of variable names or other arrays.

`...`

### Return Values

Returns `TRUE` on success or `FALSE` on failure.

### Notes

Caution

If you want your script to work regardless of register_globals, you need to instead use the $_SESSION array as $_SESSION entries are automatically registered. If your script uses session_register(), it will not work in environments where the PHP directive register_globals is disabled.

> Note: register_globals: important noteSince PHP 4.2.0, the default value for the PHP directive register_globals is off, and it is completely removed as of PHP 6.0.0. The PHP community encourages all to not rely on this directive but instead use other means, such as the superglobals.

Caution

This registers a global variable. If you want to register a session variable from within a function, you need to make sure to make it global using the global keyword or the $GLOBALS[] array, or use the special session arrays as noted below.

Caution

If you are using $_SESSION (or $HTTP_SESSION_VARS), do not use session_register(), session_is_registered(), and session_unregister().

> Note: It is currently impossible to register resource variables in a session. For example, you cannot create a connection to a database and store the connection id as a session variable and expect the connection to still be valid the next time the session is restored. PHP functions that return a resource are identified by having a return type of resource in their function definition. A list of functions that return resources are available in the resource types appendix.
> If $_SESSION (or $HTTP_SESSION_VARS for PHP 4.0.6 or less) is used, assign values to $_SESSION. For example: $_SESSION['var'] = 'ABC';

### See Also

- session_is_registered()
- session_unregister()
- $_SESSION