PHP Login/Logout If Session Timeout = true Do Something

Question

I have a script that will login and logout a user. It works perfectly. Now I have like a widget that counts how many users are registered and activated as well as how many users are online. I do this by having a field in my users database that says online = 1 or 0. When the person logs in, online = 1 and logs out online = 0. Now I haven't taken into account that this field is only being updated because the user is doing something. I haven't taken into account that the session would timeout.

How can I make a function that says something like if session timeout = true then update users set online=0 where username=$username and user_id=$user_id.

Answer 1

In your database table, add another column something like last_seen. Update this every time you see your users online. After a certain period of inactivity, they will be marked as inactive. In fact, I suggest you replace your online field with this.

For example,

ALTER TABLE users CHANGE COLUMN `online` `online` DATETIME; -- SAMPLE SQL query only

To check how many users are online:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE online>(NOW()-INTERVAL 1 HOUR); -- SELECTS all users online in the past hour.

If the user logs out, you can simply set the online = NOW()-INTERVAL 1 HOUR. Or, you can also retain your previous online field and you can check if the user is idle (using my suggestion) OR online=0.

Answer 2

Instead of trying to use a boolean value to see if somebody is logged in, try using a TIMESTAMP. Then you can perform more accurate logic based on how long somebody has been away. If the last time somebody has loaded a page on your website was 30 minutes ago, do you think they're online? Do you even think they're at their keyboard?