Session memory maintains context and data across multiple steps within a single user session or workflow execution. It stores relevant information from earlier steps so later steps can access it without redundant lookups. For businesses, this means workflows that build on previous actions rather than starting fresh each time. Without it, every step operates in isolation, requiring users to repeat information.
The customer fills out the first three steps of your support request form.
When they click Next, step four asks them to enter their email again.
Every step starts over. Every step forgets what came before.
Without session memory, every step is a first step.
ORCHESTRATION LAYER - Connects the dots between workflow steps.
Giving workflows a short-term memory
Session memory stores information from earlier steps so later steps can access it without asking again. When someone starts a multi-step process, session memory captures their inputs, preferences, and decisions. Each subsequent step can reference this context instead of starting from scratch.
The scope is deliberately limited. Session memory lasts for one workflow execution or user interaction. When the session ends, the memory clears. This keeps the system focused on the current task without accumulating irrelevant historical data.
The power of session memory is what it prevents: the frustration of repeating yourself, the errors from missing context, the delays from redundant lookups. It makes workflows feel continuous instead of fragmented.
Session memory solves a universal problem: how do you carry context forward through a multi-step process? The same pattern appears anywhere one action needs to know about the actions that preceded it.
Capture relevant data when it first appears. Store it in a session-scoped container. Make it available to all subsequent steps. Clean up when the session ends.
Navigate through a 4-step expense workflow. Toggle session memory to see what happens to previous inputs.
Keep it in the browser
Store session data in browser cookies, localStorage, or sessionStorage. The client sends relevant context with each request. Works well for simple workflows with small data payloads.
Store it on your servers
Assign a session ID and store all session data server-side. The client only holds the session ID. Each request fetches the full context from your session store (Redis, database, memory).
Pass it through the workflow
Each workflow step receives a state object, adds its contribution, and passes the updated state to the next step. The state travels with the execution rather than being stored separately.
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Does your session contain sensitive data (payments, PII)?
A team member starts an expense submission workflow. Employee info from step 1, receipts from step 2, and categories from step 3 all need to reach the final submission. Session memory carries this context forward so the approval step has complete information.
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This component works the same way across every business. Explore how it applies to different situations.
Notice how the core pattern remains consistent while the specific details change
You add every piece of data to the session without thinking about what is actually needed. After a few steps, the session object is 50KB and lookups are slow. After a few months, you have millions of never-expiring sessions consuming storage.
Instead: Store only what downstream steps need. Set explicit expiration times. Clean up sessions when workflows complete.
The session becomes the primary storage for important data. When the session expires or the server restarts, customer data vanishes. "We had their payment info but the session cleared before we processed it."
Instead: Session memory is temporary. Anything that matters beyond the current interaction belongs in a database. Session memory should reference persistent IDs, not duplicate persistent data.
Each step in the workflow operates independently. Step 4 asks for information that was already provided in step 1. The AI assistant asks "What is your name?" three times in the same conversation.
Instead: Identify which data needs to flow between steps. Implement even basic session storage (cookies, simple server session) to eliminate redundant inputs.
Session memory is a mechanism that preserves context and data across multiple steps within a single session. When a user starts a workflow or conversation, session memory stores information from each interaction so subsequent steps can access it. This allows systems to build on previous actions rather than treating each step as a completely new request with no history.
Session memory is scoped to a single workflow execution or user session, typically lasting minutes to hours. Conversation memory spans multiple sessions over days or weeks, preserving long-term context about a user. Session memory handles immediate context like form data and preferences for the current task. Conversation memory handles relationship history and learned preferences over time.
Implement session memory when your workflows have multiple steps that need to reference earlier inputs or decisions. Common scenarios include multi-step forms where later fields depend on earlier answers, approval workflows where context from the request must travel with the approval, and AI assistants that need to remember what was discussed earlier in the same conversation.
The most common mistake is storing too much in session memory, bloating storage and slowing retrieval. Another is failing to expire sessions, leaving stale data that consumes resources. Some teams confuse session memory with persistent storage, losing data when sessions end. Others skip session memory entirely, forcing users to repeat information at every step.
Session memory should persist only as long as the workflow or interaction requires. For web forms, 30 minutes of inactivity is typical before expiration. For complex workflows, sessions might last hours but should still expire. The key is matching session lifetime to actual usage patterns while avoiding indefinite persistence that wastes resources.
Store temporary, session-specific data in session memory: current form values, workflow state, user preferences for this interaction. Store permanent, cross-session data in a database: user accounts, completed transactions, audit logs. If you need the data after the session ends, it belongs in a database. If it is only relevant during the current interaction, use session memory.
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Choose the path that matches your current situation
You have no session memory and each step operates independently
You have some session handling but it is inconsistent or limited
Sessions work but you want better performance or capabilities
You have learned how to maintain context across workflow steps. The natural next step is understanding how to extend this pattern for longer-term memory across multiple sessions.