{{Short description|Time spent logged into a computer system}} {{refimprove|date=May 2026}} [[File:Kubuntu_8.04_login_screen.png|thumb|A login screen in Kubuntu 8.04.]] In computing, a '''login session''' is the period of activity between a user logging in and logging out of a (multi-user) system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSA Logon Sessions - Win32 apps |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/secauthn/lsa-logon-sessions |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
On Unix and Unix-like operating systems, a login session takes one of two main forms: * When a textual user interface is used, a login session is represented as a kernel session — a collection of process groups with the logout action managed by a session leader. * Where an X display manager is employed, a login session is considered to be the lifetime of a designated user process that the display manager invokes.
On Windows NT-based systems, login sessions are maintained by the kernel and control of them is overseen by the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSA). <code>winlogon</code> responds to the secure attention key, it requests the LSA to create login sessions on login, and terminates all of the processes belonging to a login session on logout.
==See also== * Booting process of Windows NT * Architecture of Windows NT * Booting * Master boot record * Power-on self-test * BootVis
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web | url = http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/779885d9-e5e9-4f27-9c14-5bbe77b056ba1033.mspx | title = How Interactive Logon Works | work = Windows Server 2003 Technical Library | author = Microsoft | access-date = 2006-05-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060507050136/http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/779885d9-e5e9-4f27-9c14-5bbe77b056ba1033.mspx | archive-date = 2006-05-07 | url-status = dead }}
Category:Operating system technology
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