A simple HttpSessionListener example – active sessions counter

Here’s a simple “HttpSessionListener” example to keep track the total number of active sessions in a web application. If you want to keep monitor your session’s create and remove behavior, then consider this listener.

Java Source

package com.favtuts;

import javax.servlet.http.HttpSessionEvent;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpSessionListener;

public class SessionCounterListener implements HttpSessionListener {

  private static int totalActiveSessions;
	
  public static int getTotalActiveSession(){
	return totalActiveSessions;
  }
	
  @Override
  public void sessionCreated(HttpSessionEvent arg0) {
	totalActiveSessions++;
	System.out.println("sessionCreated - add one session into counter");
  }

  @Override
  public void sessionDestroyed(HttpSessionEvent arg0) {
	totalActiveSessions--;
	System.out.println("sessionDestroyed - deduct one session from counter");
  }	
}

web.xml

<web-app ...>
        <listener>
		<listener-class>com.favtuts.SessionCounterListener</listener-class>
	</listener>
</web-app>

How it work?

– If a new session is created , e.g “request.getSession();” , the listener’s sessionCreated() will be executed.
– If a session is destroyed, e.g session’s timeout or “session.invalidate()”, the listener’s sessionDestroyed() will be executed.

  HttpSession session = request.getSession(); //sessionCreated() is executed
  session.setAttribute("url", "tuts.heomi.net"); 
  session.invalidate();  //sessionDestroyed() is executed