Session basics in Laravel - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What is the output of this Laravel session code?

Consider this Laravel controller method that sets and retrieves session data. What will be the output when this method is called?

Laravel

<?php
public function showSession(Request $request) {
    $request->session()->put('user', 'Alice');
    $name = $request->session()->get('user');
    return "User: $name";
}

A User: Alice

B User:

C null

D Error: Undefined variable

💡 Hint

Remember that Laravel's session put and get methods store and retrieve data within the same request cycle.

The session key 'user' is set to 'Alice' and then immediately retrieved, so the output is 'User: Alice'.

❓ state_output

intermediate

What will be the session value after this code runs?

Given this Laravel code snippet, what is the value stored in session key 'count' after execution?

Laravel

<?php
public function incrementCount(Request $request) {
    $count = $request->session()->get('count', 0);
    $request->session()->put('count', $count + 1);
    return $request->session()->get('count');
}

A 1

B 0

C null

D Error: Method not found

💡 Hint

The session get method returns the default value if the key does not exist.

Initially, 'count' is not set, so get returns 0. Then it is incremented by 1 and stored back, so the value is 1.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which option correctly retrieves a session value with a default fallback?

In Laravel, you want to get the session value for key 'theme'. If it does not exist, return 'light' as default. Which code snippet is correct?

A $theme = session()->get('theme', default='light');

B $theme = session()->get('theme', 'light');

C $theme = session()->get('theme') ?? 'light';

D $theme = session()->get('theme' ?: 'light');

💡 Hint

Check the Laravel session get method signature for default value usage.

Option B uses the correct syntax: get(key, default). Option B is invalid syntax. Option B uses PHP null coalescing but does not provide default to get method. Option B uses invalid named argument syntax.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Laravel session code cause an error?

This code throws an error. What is the cause?

Laravel

<?php
public function clearSession() {
    session()->forget('user');
    return session()->get('user');
}

A Error because session() helper is undefined

B Error because forget() method requires a second argument

C No error; returns null because 'user' key is removed

D Error because session()->get() is called without Request object

💡 Hint

Check Laravel session helper usage and method signatures.

The forget method removes the key. Then get returns null since the key no longer exists. No error occurs.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What happens to session data when you call session()->flush() in Laravel?

Choose the correct description of the effect of calling session()->flush() in a Laravel application.

A It resets the session ID but preserves all session data.

B It deletes only the session cookie but keeps data on server.

C It clears only flash data but keeps other session data intact.

D It removes all session data for the current user immediately.

💡 Hint

Think about what flushing a session means in terms of stored data.

session()->flush() removes all data stored in the session for the current user immediately.