qiskit-documentation/docs/api/qiskit-ibm-runtime/0.18/qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.mdx

---
title: Session
description: API reference for qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session
in_page_toc_min_heading_level: 1
python_api_type: class
python_api_name: qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session
---

# Session

<Class id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session" isDedicatedPage={true} github="https://github.com/qiskit/qiskit-ibm-runtime/tree/stable/0.18/qiskit_ibm_runtime/session.py" signature="Session(service=None, backend=None, max_time=None)" modifiers="class">
  Class for creating a flexible Qiskit Runtime session.

  A Qiskit Runtime `session` allows you to group a collection of iterative calls to the quantum computer. A session is started when the first job within the session is started. Subsequent jobs within the session are prioritized by the scheduler. Data used within a session, such as transpiled circuits, is also cached to avoid unnecessary overhead.

  You can open a Qiskit Runtime session using this `Session` class and submit jobs to one or more primitives.

  For example:

  ```python
  from qiskit.test.reference_circuits import ReferenceCircuits
  from qiskit_ibm_runtime import Sampler, Session, Options

  options = Options(optimization_level=3)

  with Session(backend="ibmq_qasm_simulator") as session:
      sampler = Sampler(session=session, options=options)
      job = sampler.run(ReferenceCircuits.bell())
      print(f"Sampler job ID: {job.job_id()}")
      print(f"Sampler job result: {job.result()}")
  ```

  Session constructor.

  **Parameters**

  *   **service** (`Optional`\[[`QiskitRuntimeService`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService "qiskit_ibm_runtime.qiskit_runtime_service.QiskitRuntimeService")]) – Optional instance of the `QiskitRuntimeService` class. If `None`, the service associated with the backend, if known, is used. Otherwise `QiskitRuntimeService()` is used to initialize your default saved account.
  *   **backend** (`Union`\[`str`, [`IBMBackend`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend "qiskit_ibm_runtime.ibm_backend.IBMBackend"), `None`]) – Optional instance of [`qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend "qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend") class or string name of backend. An instance of `qiskit_ibm_provider.IBMBackend` will not work. If not specified, a backend will be selected automatically (IBM Cloud channel only).
  *   **max\_time** (`Union`\[`int`, `str`, `None`]) – (EXPERIMENTAL setting, can break between releases without warning) Maximum amount of time, a runtime session can be open before being forcibly closed. Can be specified as seconds (int) or a string like “2h 30m 40s”. This value must be less than the [system imposed maximum](/run/max-execution-time).

  **Raises**

  **ValueError** – If an input value is invalid.

  ## Attributes

  ### service

  <Attribute id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.service">
    Return service associated with this session.

    **Return type**

    [`QiskitRuntimeService`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService "qiskit_ibm_runtime.qiskit_runtime_service.QiskitRuntimeService")

    **Returns**

    [`qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService "qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService") associated with this session.
  </Attribute>

  ### session\_id

  <Attribute id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.session_id">
    Return the session ID.

    **Return type**

    `str`

    **Returns**

    Session ID. None until a job is submitted.
  </Attribute>

  ## Methods

  ### backend

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.backend" signature="backend()">
    Return backend for this session.

    **Return type**

    `Optional`\[`str`]

    **Returns**

    Backend for this session. None if unknown.
  </Function>

  ### cancel

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.cancel" signature="cancel()">
    Cancel all pending jobs in a session.

    **Return type**

    `None`
  </Function>

  ### close

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.close" signature="close()">
    Close the session so new jobs will no longer be accepted, but existing queued or running jobs will run to completion. The session will be terminated once there are no more pending jobs.

    **Return type**

    `None`
  </Function>

  ### details

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.details" signature="details()">
    Return session details.

    **Returns**

    id: id of the session. backend\_name: backend used for the session. interactive\_timeout: The maximum idle time (in seconds) between jobs that is allowed to occur before the session is deactivated. max\_time: Maximum allowed time (in seconds) for the session, subject to plan limits. active\_timeout: The maximum time (in seconds) a session can stay active. state: State of the session - open, active, inactive, or closed. accepting\_jobs: Whether or not the session is accepting jobs. last\_job\_started: Timestamp of when the last job in the session started. last\_job\_completed: Timestamp of when the last job in the session completed. started\_at: Timestamp of when the session was started. closed\_at: Timestamp of when the session was closed. activated\_at: Timestamp of when the session state was changed to active.

    **Return type**

    A dictionary with the sessions details, including
  </Function>

  ### from\_id

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.from_id" signature="from_id(session_id, service=None, backend=None)" modifiers="classmethod">
    Construct a Session object with a given session\_id

    **Parameters**

    *   **session\_id** (`str`) – the id of the session to be created. This must be an already existing session id.
    *   **service** (`Optional`\[[`QiskitRuntimeService`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.QiskitRuntimeService "qiskit_ibm_runtime.qiskit_runtime_service.QiskitRuntimeService")]) – instance of the `QiskitRuntimeService` class.
    *   **backend** (`Union`\[`str`, [`IBMBackend`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend "qiskit_ibm_runtime.ibm_backend.IBMBackend"), `None`]) – instance of [`qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend "qiskit_ibm_runtime.IBMBackend") class or string name of backend.

    **Return type**

    [`Session`](#qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session "qiskit_ibm_runtime.session.Session")

    **Returns**

    A new Session with the given `session_id`
  </Function>

  ### run

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.run" signature="run(program_id, inputs, options=None, callback=None, result_decoder=None)">
    Run a program in the session.

    **Parameters**

    *   **program\_id** (`str`) – Program ID.
    *   **inputs** (`Dict`) – Program input parameters. These input values are passed to the runtime program.
    *   **options** (`Optional`\[`Dict`]) – Runtime options that control the execution environment. See [`qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeOptions`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeOptions "qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeOptions") for all available options.
    *   **callback** (`Optional`\[`Callable`]) – Callback function to be invoked for any interim results and final result.

    **Return type**

    [`RuntimeJob`](qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeJob "qiskit_ibm_runtime.runtime_job.RuntimeJob")

    **Returns**

    Submitted job.
  </Function>

  ### status

  <Function id="qiskit_ibm_runtime.Session.status" signature="status()">
    Return current session status.

    **Returns**

    Pending: Session is created but not active. It will become active when the next job of this session is dequeued. In progress, accepting new jobs: session is active and accepting new jobs. In progress, not accepting new jobs: session is active and not accepting new jobs. Closed: max\_time expired or session was explicitly closed. None: status details are not available.

    **Return type**

    The current status of the session, including
  </Function>
</Class>