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   Session Definition
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   {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Session","description":"In the computing world, a session refers to a limited time of communication between two systems.  Some sessions involve a client and a server, while other sessions involve two personal computers.","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/session"}
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href=/> Home </a><svg viewbox="0 0 9 14"xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"></path></svg><a href=/category/internet> Internet Terms </a><svg viewbox="0 0 9 14"xmlns=http://www.w3.org/2000/svg><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"></path></svg> Session Definition</div></header><h1>Session</h1><div class=adDefRect><div id=div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0></div></div><p>In the computing world, a session refers to a limited time of communication between two systems. Some sessions involve a <a href=/definition/client> client </a> and a <a href=/definition/server> server </a> , while other sessions involve two personal computers.<p>A common type of client/server session is a Web or <a href=/definition/http> HTTP </a> session. An HTTP session is initiated by a Web browser each time you visit a <a href=/definition/website> website </a> . While each page visit constitutes an individual session, the term is often used to describe the entire time you spend on the website. For example, when you purchase an item on an <a href=/definition/ecommerce> ecommerce </a> site, the entire process may be described as a session, even though you navigated through several different pages.<p>Another example of a client/server session is an email or <a href=/definition/smtp> SMTP </a> session. Whenever you check your <a href=/definition/email> email </a> with an email client, such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail, you initiate an SMTP session. This involves sending your account information to the mail server, checking for new messages, and <a href=/definition/download> downloading </a> the messages from the server. Once the messages have been downloaded, the session is complete.<p>An example of a session between two personal computers is an online chat, or <a href=/definition/im> instant messaging </a> session. This type of session involves two computers, but neither system is considered a server or client. Instead, this type of communication is called a peer-to-peer or <a href=/definition/p2p> P2P </a> . Another example of P2P communication is <a href=/definition/bittorrent> BitTorrent </a> file sharing, where file downloads are comprised of one or more sessions with other computers on the BitTorrent network. A P2P session ends when the connection between two systems is terminated.<div class=adBotLB><div id=div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0></div></div><footer class=cardfooter><div class=upDate>Updated February 2, 2011</div><div id=citations><div class=tabs><div aria-label=citations role=tablist><button aria-controls=apa aria-selected=false role=tab tabindex=-1>APA</button><button aria-controls=mla aria-selected=false role=tab tabindex=-1>MLA</button><button aria-controls=chicago aria-selected=false role=tab tabindex=-1>Chicago</button><button aria-controls=html aria-selected=false role=tab tabindex=-1>HTML</button><button aria-controls=link aria-selected=false role=tab tabindex=-1>Link</button></div><div class=citation hidden id=apa role=tabpanel></div><div class=citation hidden id=mla role=tabpanel></div><div class=citation hidden id=chicago role=tabpanel></div><div class=citation hidden id=html role=tabpanel></div><div class=citation hidden id=link role=tabpanel><div>https://techterms.com/definition/session</div></div></div></div></footer></div></article><div class="techterms card"><h2 class=heading>Definitions by TechTerms.com</h2><p>The definition of Session on this page is an original TechTerms.com definition. 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