session

n 1: a meeting for execution of a group's functions; "it was the

opening session of the legislature"

2: the time during which a school holds classes; "they had to

shorten the school term" [syn: {school term}, {academic

term}]

3: a meeting devoted to a particular activity; "a filming

session"; "a gossip session"

4: a meeting of spiritualists; "the seance was held in the

medium's parlor" [syn: {seance}, {sitting}]

session

1. A lasting connection between a user (or user

agent) and a {peer}, typically a {server}, usually involving

the exchange of many packets between the user's computer and

the server. A session is typically implemented as a layer in

a network {protocol} (e.g. {telnet}, {FTP}).

In the case of protocols where there is no concept of a

session layer (e.g. {UDP}) or where sessions at the {session

layer} are generally very short-lived (e.g. {HTTP}), {virtual}

sessions are implemented by having each exchange between the

user and the remote host include some form of {cookie} which

stores state (e.g. a unique session ID, information about the

user's preferences or authorisation level, etc.).

See also {login}.

2. A lasting connection using the {session layer} of a

networking protocol.

(1997-08-03)