Hibernate Session Management: When Should I Use openSession() vs getCurrentSession()?

Hibernate Session Management: openSession() vs getCurrentSession()

When working with Hibernate in a JSP web application, managing sessions is crucial for efficient data access. This article addresses common questions regarding the usage of openSession() and getCurrentSession() methods.

1. Hibernate.current_session_context_class

The value for hibernate.current_session_context_class determines how Hibernate manages the lifecycle of sessions. There are two possible options:

• thread: This setting binds a session to the current thread, allowing access to the session from anywhere within the thread's execution.
• jta: This setting uses Java Transaction API (JTA) to manage sessions in a JTA-compliant environment.

2. Choice of Method

Whether to use openSession() or getCurrentSession() depends on the session management strategy employed:

• Thread-bound sessions (hibernate.current_session_context_class=thread): Use getCurrentSession() to access the session bound to the current thread. This approach is suitable when sessions are opened and closed within a single request or transaction.
• Non-thread-bound sessions (hibernate.current_session_context_class=jta): Use openSession() to create a new session that must be closed explicitly when the operations are complete.

3. Session Per Web App vs Per Request

"One session per web app" approach is not recommended as sessions are not thread-safe and cannot be shared between multiple threads. Instead, the preferable approach is:

• One session per request: Opens a new session for each request and closes it when the request is completed. This ensures that data accessed by different requests is isolated and secure.

Therefore, it is advisable to set hibernate.current_session_context_class to "thread" and use getCurrentSession() when employing thread-bound sessions, or use openSession() and close the session explicitly when using non-thread-bound sessions. Additionally, adopting the "one session per request" approach is recommended for ensuring data integrity and thread-safety.

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