How can update my session using ajax?

Question

I'm using a session for setting language

if(!isset($GLOBALS['lang'])){
    $GLOBALS['lang'] = 'en';
}

Then I'm using ajax to update this:

var lang = 'no'; 

$.ajax({
    type: "POST",
    url: url,
    data: {
          lang : lang
    },
    success: function (data) { (...) }
});

The file being called looks like this:

global $lang;

if(strlen($_POST['lang']) == 2 ){
    $lang = $_POST['lang'];
    $result = array('lang_set' => $lang);
    echo json_encode($result);
}

But my global session is not changed. I'm guessing this is due to the fact that lang.php uses another session instance.

I'm using Wordpress so I'm looking into if I can use some of the built in functions for this purpose. But I'm wondering if I can use PHP sessions for keeping track of selected language? Or do I have to use another method like adding selected language to my url?

UPDATE
Thanks to Ghost, I made it work. If you are using Wordpress, I'm doing the following in functions.php:

// Initialize session
if(session_id() == '') {
    session_start();
}

// Set lang session with default language
if(!isset($_SESSION['lang'])){
    $_SESSION['lang'] = 'no';
}

//globals
$GLOBALS['lang'] = $_SESSION['lang'];

if( !session_id() ){session_start();}

Francisco Corrales Morales
– Francisco Corrales Morales

2014-09-26 15:03:37 +00:00
Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 15:03 — Francisco Corrales Morales
– Francisco Corrales Morales, Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 15:03

Kevin · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-26 09:03:49Z

3

If you want them to persist on the entire application, use sessions:

session_start();
if(!isset($_SESSION['lang'])){
    $_SESSION['lang'] = 'en';
}

Then on the other:

session_start();

if(strlen($_POST['lang']) == 2 ){
    $_SESSION['lang'] = $_POST['lang'];
    $result = array('lang_set' => $_SESSION['lang']);
    echo json_encode($result);
}

answered Sep 26, 2014 at 9:03

Kevin

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6 Comments

Steven Over a year ago

That will not work (tested) because when you open lang.php, it creates another session instance (I think).

Kevin Over a year ago

@Steven nope, it will work, you need a session_start() on those scripts where you need to access session variables

Steven Over a year ago

Yea, sorry - my bad. I forgot session_start();in my lang.php file. Thanks :)

Kevin Over a year ago

@Steven anyway, the important thing is its always on top of your php file, and don't call it twice in the same php file.

Steven Over a year ago

I only call it twice. Once in lang.php and once in my function.php file - where I place the session in $GLOBALS['lang']

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