> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getpara.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Web Session Management

> Overview of authentication session management in Para for web applications

export const Link = ({href, label, newTab = false}) => {
  const [isHovered, setIsHovered] = useState(false);
  return <a href={href} target={newTab ? '_blank' : '_self'} rel={newTab ? 'noopener noreferrer' : undefined} className="not-prose inline-block relative text-black font-semibold cursor-pointer border-b-0 no-underline" onMouseEnter={() => setIsHovered(true)} onMouseLeave={() => setIsHovered(false)}>
      {label}
      <span className={`absolute left-0 bottom-0 w-full rounded-sm bg-gradient-to-r from-orange-600 to-purple-600 transition-all duration-300 ${isHovered ? 'h-0.5' : 'h-px'}`} />
    </a>;
};

Para provides a comprehensive set of methods for managing authentication sessions in web applications. These sessions are crucial for secure transaction signing and other authenticated operations. Proper session management helps maintain security while ensuring a seamless user experience.

## Session Configuration

Para session length is configured per API key and can be set up to 30 days through the <Link label="Developer Portal" href="https://developer.getpara.com" /> or CLI. The Para API enforces the configured duration. Signing a message or transaction, or calling `keepSessionAlive()`, can extend an active session according to that configuration.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/getpara/7kQoZd8_2lgraXk0/images/v3/developer-portal-session-length.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=7kQoZd8_2lgraXk0&q=85&s=438628546bcc0d28e6e7f938416a97d2" alt="Developer Portal Session Length Configuration" width="808" height="215" data-path="images/v3/developer-portal-session-length.png" />
</Frame>

### Security Considerations

**Shorter Sessions:**

* Enhanced security for sensitive applications
* Reduced risk if device is compromised
* Better for shared or public devices

**Longer Sessions (1 Week - 1 Month):**

* Improved user experience with fewer logins
* Better for personal devices and trusted environments
* Consider implementing automatic session refresh

### Custom Session Length

For custom durations:

1. Select "Custom" option in the Developer Portal
2. Enter duration in minutes
3. Consider your application's specific security needs
4. Balance security with user experience

## Session Management Topics

Explore the different aspects of session management in Para:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Session Lifecycle" description="Check, maintain, and refresh user sessions" href="/v3/react/guides/sessions-lifecycle" />

  <Card title="JWT Tokens" description="Issue and verify JWT tokens for session attestation" href="/v3/react/guides/sessions-jwt" />

  <Card title="Session Transfer" description="Export sessions for server-side operations" href="/v3/react/guides/sessions-transfer" />

  <Card title="Pregenerated Wallets" description="Session handling for pregenerated wallets" href="/v3/react/guides/sessions-pregen" />
</CardGroup>

## Quick Start

Here's a basic example of checking and maintaining a session:

```typescript theme={null}
const para = new Para(apiKey);

// Check if session is active
const isActive = await para.isSessionActive();

if (!isActive) {
  // Handle expired session - route to authentication
} else {
  // Extend the session
  await para.keepSessionAlive();
}
```