multidimensional session array

[Branden Wagner]

.. i read somewhere.. awhile ago, that you should not user multidimensional arrays within a session var...
can anyone elaborate or tell my the downsides of it

because im using...
[code]
$_SESSION['authorized_user'] = array();
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['username']= $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'];
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['password']= $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW'];
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['info']['email'] = // queried from db
#....  i think you get the point
[/code]

basically i store all the users common info(used frequently) into the session array..
i was just wondering if there was a better way to do...

also didnt there used to be a session tutorial on this site somewhere?? i cant seem to find it.
i found one http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials/41/0.php
but that doesnt seem to work..

[zq29]

I've never heard that you should not use multidimensional session arrays, there are no downsides that are instantly obvious... I've used them several times with no problems.

[ignace]

It won't harm i guess, however i won't go as deep as you do $_SESSION['user_information']['info']['email'].. rather i would stick to something like this $_SESSION['user_information']['user_email'] however i only use sessions to store information, but i never get the information directly from it, only when a parent file is being executed the complete session is being loaded into my session object, so whenever i need something from my session i get it from my object in the order of: $Context->Session->GetVariable('user_email'); and because of my context object also controls my database, can i even check if the retrieved data is correct, if required.

[king arthur]

[quote author=Branden Wagner link=topic=103123.msg410424#msg410424 date=1154818242]
.. i read somewhere.. awhile ago, that you should not user multidimensional arrays within a session var...
can anyone elaborate or tell my the downsides of it

because im using...
[code]
$_SESSION['authorized_user'] = array();
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['username']= $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'];
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['password']= $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW'];
$_SESSION['authorized_user']['info']['email'] = // queried from db
#....  i think you get the point
[/code]

basically i store all the users common info(used frequently) into the session array..
i was just wondering if there was a better way to do...

also didnt there used to be a session tutorial on this site somewhere?? i cant seem to find it.
i found one http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials/41/0.php
but that doesnt seem to work..


[/quote]

Why are you using a key 'authorized_user' though? Does your array have other keys for other types of user too? Or is it just to separate those variables from other variables with similar names in the session array?