Session Timeout

Warns users before their session expires, allowing them to extend or save their work. Uses a mandatory modal with countdown timer and auto-saves form progress when the warning appears.

Session expires in: 0:30

Sample Application Form

Fill in some fields below, then start the session timer. When the warning modal appears, any entered data will be auto-saved.

Usage Notes

When to use: Use this pattern on any page where users are authenticated and may lose work due to session expiration. It is especially important for long forms, multi-step processes, and transactional workflows. The warning should appear with enough time for users to respond (typically 2-5 minutes before expiry in production; this demo uses 15 seconds for demonstration).
Accessibility considerations: The modal is mandatory (cannot be dismissed by clicking outside or pressing Escape) because the user must make a choice. The countdown is announced to screen readers at key intervals (10 seconds and 5 seconds) to avoid excessive announcements. The "Session extended" confirmation is announced assertively. Focus is trapped within the modal when open and returns to the previous element when closed. The nys-modal component handles focus trapping internally.
NYSDS components used: nys-modal (mandatory session warning dialog), nys-textinput (sample form fields), nys-select (sample form dropdown), nys-button (extend, sign out, sign in actions), nys-icon (timer and lock icons)
Customization points: Adjust the session duration and warning threshold to match your application (typically 15-30 minutes with a 2-5 minute warning). In production, connect to your actual session management API for extending and terminating sessions. The auto-save behavior uses sessionStorage by default but can be adapted to use a backend endpoint. The form content shown during the session is a placeholder for your actual application form.

Session Timeout

Sample Application Form

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Session Timeout

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Sample Application Form

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