øktID

øktID is a term used in Norwegian information technology to denote a unique identifier assigned to a user session, enabling a server to maintain state across multiple requests. In web applications and services, the øktID is typically transmitted with each request and mapped on the server to session data such as authentication status, user preferences, and shopping cart contents.

Etymology: The term combines økt, meaning "session" or "period" in Norwegian, and ID, from identifier.

Generation and storage: øktID should be cryptographically secure, randomly generated, and unique. It is often stored on the client side as a cookie or in local storage and sent with every request. The server maintains a session store that maps each øktID to corresponding session data. Sessions typically have an expiration policy based on inactivity or a fixed lifetime and may be renewed on activity or re-authentication.

Security and privacy: Common precautions include using Secure and HttpOnly cookies, SameSite attributes, binding the session to a client IP or user agent when feasible, avoiding exposure in URLs, rotating identifiers on login, and terminating sessions on logout or after detection of compromise. Proper session management reduces the risk of session hijacking and fixation.

Overview and usage: øktID is a generic concept present in many Norwegian-language IT documents; it is distinct from a user ID or an access token and is primarily a mechanism for maintaining per-session state. In practice, frameworks and platforms provide built-in session management utilities that generate and validate øktID values.

See also: session management, cookies, tokens.