While it's technically possible to call the 'extend session' API for every application API call, it may not be the most efficient way to handle session management. The 'extend session' API is designed to extend a specific session ID, and if

session.earliest_possible_extend

is set, it will only extend the session after the specified time has passed [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/reference/api)]. Instead, you might want to consider using the Ory SDK's session management capabilities. For example, you can use the

/sessions/whoami

endpoint or

toSession

SDK method to get the Session ID [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/session-management/refresh-extend-sessions#refreshing-sessions-as-administrator)]. You can also use the SDK to check the session status, as shown in this example [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/bring-your-own-ui/custom-ui-basic-integration#session-checks)]. Remember that for native applications, Ory issues a session token on successful login that can be used to authenticate subsequent requests [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/bring-your-own-ui/custom-ui-basic-integration#native-application)]. In summary, while you can use the 'extend session' API to keep sessions active, it might be more efficient to use the built-in session management capabilities of the Ory SDK.

Yes, Ory Kratos provides a way to refresh a session without logging the user out. This is particularly useful when updating one's password or when you want to re-authenticate an active user session to confirm the same user is logged in. To refresh a session, you append

?refresh=true

to the relevant endpoint. For browser clients, you would append it to

/self-service/login/browser

, and for API clients, you would append it to

/self-service/login/api

. For example:

<https://playground.projects.oryapis.com/self-service/login/browser?refresh=true>

Refreshing a session updates the

authenticated_at

time and won't log the user out, unless another user signs in. Here is a common use case for refreshing a session: 1. User logs in. 2. User interacts with the application. 3. User is inactive for a period of time. 4. The user returns before session lifespan expires. 5. The application needs to confirm that the user interacting with the application is the same user that logged in. 6. The session is refreshed through a login flow with the

?refresh=true

query parameter. You can also force users to refresh their second authentication factor by setting

refresh=true

and

aal=aal2

. Please note that the session refresh is only applicable to the login flow and requires the user to already have a session [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/self-service/flows/user-login#refreshing-a-session), [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/bring-your-own-ui/custom-ui-advanced-integration#refreshing-user-session), [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/session-management/refresh-extend-sessions)].

You're correct. The

?refresh=true

parameter does indeed prompt the user to re-authenticate, which may not be suitable for your requirements if you want to avoid any form of re-authentication. Unfortunately, based on the provided knowledge sources, Ory Kratos does not seem to provide a way to extend or refresh a session without any form of re-authentication. The session refresh mechanism in Ory Kratos is designed around the principle of re-authentication to ensure the security of user sessions. If you want to keep users logged in for longer periods without interaction, you might consider setting a longer session lifespan in your Ory Kratos configuration. However, this would apply to all users and not just those who are active. For more advanced session management requirements, you might need to implement additional logic in your application or consider other identity and access management solutions that offer more flexible session management features.

Yes, there are potential risks and mitigations to consider when calling the 'extend session' API with the

earliest_possible_extend

option for every application API request. Risks: 1. Performance Impact: Making an additional API call for every application request could potentially impact the performance of your application, especially if you have a high volume of requests. This could lead to slower response times and a less responsive user interface. 2. Increased Load on the Server: Each 'extend session' API call will put additional load on the server. If you have many users and a high frequency of requests, this could potentially overload your server or the Ory Kratos service. 3. Session Management Complexity: If the

earliest_possible_extend

is set to a short duration, you might end up with a complex session management scenario where sessions are constantly being extended. This could make it harder to manage and track user sessions. Mitigations: 1. Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting on the 'extend session' API calls to prevent overloading the server. This can help to control the frequency of 'extend session' calls. 2. Caching: Implement caching mechanisms to store session information and reduce the number of 'extend session' calls. 3. Adjust

earliest_possible_extend

Duration: Set the

earliest_possible_extend

to a reasonable duration that balances user experience and server load. For example, if you set

earliest_possible_extend

to

24h

, sessions can't be refreshed sooner than 24 hours before they expire [[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/session-management/refresh-extend-sessions#refresh-threshold)]. 4. Monitoring and Alerts: Monitor the performance and usage of the 'extend session' API and set up alerts for any unusual activity or errors. Remember, the 'extend session' API requires authentication via the

oryAccessToken

[[source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/reference/api)]. Always ensure that this token is securely managed and not exposed to potential security risks.