# Self.session.props vs session.props **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition81, perspective, scripting\ **Created:** [July 20, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/self-session-props-vs-session-props/76667 "2023-07-20T17:02:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ian.sebryk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/ian.sebryk/32/49319_2.png) [@ian.sebryk](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/ian.sebryk)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/self-session-props-vs-session-props/76667/1 "2023-07-20T17:02:36Z")
some of the scripts i am seeing use `self.session.props...` whereas others just use `session.props...` what is the differentiator and where do i find it in the manual? i tried looking for `self.session` but got no results. is it similar to the JS `this`? i vaguely remember something about `self` in the IU courses, but do not recall which lesson it's in. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/self-session-props-vs-session-props/76667/2 "2023-07-20T17:09:24Z")
Every Perspective element (available at self in component level event scripts and custom methods) has an automatic reference to the parent session, because a component can't exist without a session. Self is just the Python convention for the instance that holds the method. JS, Java, various others call it "this". 'session', by itself, would only work in certain session event scripts. It should be pretty clear what's being delivered to you explicitly in whatever Perspective script you're authoring by the extension function UI.