PHP session timeout callback?

Question

I'm running a PHP + APACHE + CENTOS Linux combination.

I have implemented a login & logout on the website.

My question is, how can I know when the php session has timed-out (User has closed his browser without logging-out)?

The reason is, I want perform some cleanups and/or database updates (calling another PHP) when the user has done any of the following: (1) LOGGED-OUT or (2) TIMED-OUT

My guess is that I would have to make use of Apache/Linux, right?

Answer 1

Instead of detecting when the php session times out, you could create a script that will run at some semi regular interval (every 5 minutes say, using a crontab job most likely) that will log out/perform the clean up for anyone who hasn't been active in the last hour (or whatever your timeout value is) automatically. Just add a 'lastseen' to your user table.