<para>A <firstterm>session</firstterm> is the period of time you spend using GNOME, between logging in and logging out. During a session, you use your applications, print, browse the web, and so on.</para>
Normally, logging out ends the session, but you can choose to save the state of your session and restore it next time you use GNOME: see <xref linkend="gosstartsession-2"/>.</para></tip>
<!--
2.14 has moved all this out of the standard dialogs.
The session manager saves and restores the following:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>The appearance and behavior settings, for example fonts, colors,
and mouse settings. </para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>The applications that you were running, for example file manager
and text editor windows. You cannot save and restore applications that the
session manager does not manage. For example, if you start the <application>vi</application> editor from the command line in a terminal window, session
manager cannot restore your editing session. </para>
<para>When you log in successfully, GNOME will take a short amount of time to start up. When it is ready, you will see the Desktop and you can begin using your computer.</para>
<para>The first time you log in, the session manager starts a new
session. If you have logged in before and saved the settings for the previous
session when you logged out, then the session manager restores your
<para>Locking your screen prevents access to your applications and information, allowing you to leave your computer unattended. While your screen is locked, the <link linkend="prefs-screensaver">screensaver</link> runs.</para>
<note><para>The <guibutton>Lock Screen</guibutton> button is not present on the panels by default. To add it, see <xref linkend="panels-addobject"/>.</para></note>
<para>If another user wants to use the computer while it is locked, they can move the mouse or press a key and then click <guibutton>Switch User</guibutton>. The login screen will be displayed and they can log in using their user account. They will not be able to access any of your applications or information. When they log out, the screen will be locked again and you can access your session by unlocking the screen.</para>
<para>You can leave a message for a user who has locked their screen. Move the mouse or press any key and then click <guibutton>Leave Message</guibutton>. Type your message into the box and press <guibutton>Save</guibutton>. Your message will be displayed when the user unlocks their screen.</para>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="gosstartsession-2">
<title>Setting Programs to Start Automatically When You Log In</title>
<para>Log out, leaving the computer ready for another user to begin working with it. To log out of GNOME, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guimenuitem>Log Out <replaceable>username</replaceable></guimenuitem></menuchoice> .</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Shut down your computer and switch off the power. To shut down, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guimenuitem>Shut Down</guimenuitem></menuchoice> and click <guibutton>Shut Down</guibutton> on the dialog that appears.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Depending on your computer's configuration, you can also <firstterm>Hibernate</firstterm> your computer. During hibernation, less power is used, but all of the applications and documents that you have open are preserved and will still be open when you resume from hibernation. You can resume from hibernation by moving your mouse or pressing a key.</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<note>
<para>Some vendors and distributors allow you to hibernate your computer in two ways, often called Hibernate and <firstterm>Suspend</firstterm>. Both of these will preserve your open files and applications, but one will switch off the power to your computer while the other will leave the computer running in a state that uses less power.</para>
