Check if session item exists fails itself with object reference not set error

Question

I'm having problem regarding session items. Before I use them, I want to check if they exists, but using this codes gives me error:

If (Session("SomeSessionItem") Is Nothing) Then
...
End If

This is the error:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

I think Session("SomeSessionItem") tries to acquire the value of the session item. If the item doesn't exists then it throws exception. But how do I check if a session item exists before using them?

• I have a page Home.aspx.
• In the Home.aspx.vb, I instantiate a WebUserControl SomeControl.ascx. Note that in Home.aspx.vb event handler Page_Load I can use a condition to check session without getting an exception.
• Inside SomeControl.ascx.vb I'm trying to access the session, here's where the exception occurs.

Answer 1

Does that work for you?

If (Session IsNot Nothing)
    Dim item as Object = Session("SomeSessionItem")
    If (item IsNot Nothing)
    ...
    End If
End If

Also, you may need to check HttpContext.Current.Session rather than simply Session if you're seeing the the following error:

Session does not exist in this context

Answer 2

If you try to use sessions before the session object itself is created, you receive this behavior. Note that the Session object is not available at all times in the process of a request. You can check for Session itself to be Nothing.

It is guaranteed created after the Session_Start event fired which you can check in global.asax.

In case your code runs inside the code-behind of your page, there are scenario's where the session state is not yet available. However, inside Page_Load it is available, check there.

Finally: when .EnableSessionstate="false" is set for your page or application-wide, you cannot access the session object.

---

Edit:

Maybe you mean instead of If (Session("SomeSessionItem") Is Nothing) Then the following?

If (Session("SomeSessionItem") IsNot Nothing) Then
    '... do someting, i.e.:'
    Dim sessionItem As String = CType(Session("SomeSessionItem"), String)