When should I use LocalStorage and sessionStorage?

Web storage objects localStorage and sessionStorage allow to store key/value in the browser. Both key and value must be strings. The limit is 2mb+, depends on the browser. They do not expire.

Summary.

localStorage	sessionStorage
Survives browser restart	Survives page refresh (but not tab close)

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Beside this, when should I use local storage vs session storage?

Session storage is destroyed once the user closes the browser whereas, Local storage stores data with no expiration date. The sessionStorage object is equal to the localStorage object, except that it stores the data for only one session. The data is deleted when the user closes the browser window.

Secondly, should I use session storage? It's a good alternative to passing data between pages using viewstate, hidden <input> fields, or URL parameters. The main reason to use sessionStorage is for cases where if your user were to open the same page twice in two different tabs, you'd want separate storage areas for those two tabs.

Hereof, when should you not use localStorage?

The following are limitations and also ways to NOT use localStorage:

• Do not store sensitive user information in localStorage.
• It is not a substitute for a server based database as information is only stored on the browser.
• LocalStorage is limited to 5MB across all major browsers.

What is the difference between cookies sessionStorage and localStorage?

Cookies are primarily for server-side reading (can also be read on client-side), localStorage and sessionStorage can only be read on client-side. Size must be less than 4KB.

Related Question Answers

Can localStorage be hacked?

2 Answers. Local storage is bound to the domain, so in regular case the user cannot change it on any other domain or on localhost. It is also bound per user/browser, i.e. no third party has access to ones local storage. Nevertheless local storage is in the end a file on the user's file system and may be hacked.

Is session storage secure?

Never store sensitive data using Web Storage: Web Storage is not secure storage. It is not “more secure” than cookies because it isn't transmitted over the wire. It is not encrypted. There is no Secure or HTTP only flag so this is not a place to keep session or other security tokens.

Does sessionStorage clear on refresh?

On this Page sessionStorage is similar to localStorage ; the difference is that while data in localStorage doesn't expire, data in sessionStorage is cleared when the page session ends. A page session lasts as long as the browser is open, and survives over page reloads and restores.

Which is better localStorage or cookie?

Cookies and local storage serve different purposes. Cookies are mainly for reading server-side, whereas local storage can only be read by the client-side . Apart from saving data, a big technical difference is the size of data you can store, and as I mentioned earlier localStorage gives you more to work with.

Where is local storage data stored?

Google Chrome records Web storage data in a SQLite file in the user's profile. The subfolder containing this file is " AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultLocal Storage " on Windows, and " ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Local Storage " on macOS.

How long does session storage last?

It doesn't expire automatically. So if you never close your browser it never expires. So when the tab/window is closed the data is lost. Each sessionstorage area is allowed 5mb of storage (in some browsers 10mb).

Which is better session or cookie?

Cookies store it directly on the client. Sessions use a cookie as a key of sorts, to associate with the data that is stored on the server side. It is preferred to use sessions because the actual values are hidden from the client, and you control when the data expires and becomes invalid.

How do I store and retrieve data from local storage?

The retrieval process is pretty simple:

1. Retrieve the value. Generally, you'll create a variable with the same name as the key.
2. Determine if the value exists. If the key does not exist, the value will be null.
3. Modify the variable. Your code will likely modify the variable.
4. Store the value back in the database.

What happens when localStorage is full?

When you try to store data in localStorage, the browser checks whether there's enough remaining space for the current domain. If yes: The data is not stored and no existing data is overwritten. A QUOTA_EXCEEDED_ERR exception is thrown.

Where is JWT stored?

A JWT needs to be stored in a safe place inside the user's browser. If you store it inside localStorage, it's accessible by any script inside your page (which is as bad as it sounds, as an XSS attack can let an external attacker get access to the token). Don't store it in local storage (or session storage).

Does localStorage work on mobile?

If you're using localStorage in a Cordova/PhoneGap app, you'll get a limit of 5 MB on both iOS and Android. In most cases this will work, but there are issues with the way iOS and Android manage localStorage on the devices.

Which browsers support local storage?

Please select the browser or browsers which are affected.

• Firefox.
• Internet Explorer.
• Android webview.
• Chrome for Android.
• Firefox for Android.
• Opera for Android.
• Safari on iOS.
• Samsung Internet.

How do I clear localStorage when browser is closed?

No, LocalStorage remains persistent until it is cleared. sessionStorage is deleted when the user ends the session by closing browser or tab. No, until the user removes it on all browsers. It is persistent meaning the stored data will still be there when you close and re-open the browser window.

Is it safe to store access token in local storage?

Don't store tokens in local storage Browser local storage (or session storage) is not a secure place to store sensitive information. Any data stored there: Can be accessed through JavaScript. May be vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

Does localStorage expire?

The localStorage object stores data with no expiration date. The data will not be deleted when the browser is closed, and will be available the next day, week, or year.

Where are cookies stored?

A cookie is information stored on your computer by a website you visit. In some browsers, each cookie is a small file but in Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file, located in the Firefox profile folder. Cookies often store your settings for a website, such as your preferred language or location.

Is session Storage tab specific?

Right, sessionStorage is not shared across tabs. The way I solved it is by using localStorage events. When a user opens a new tab, we first ask any other tab that is opened if he already have the sessionStorage for us. Click to “Set the sessionStorage” than open multiple tabs to see the sessionStorage is shared.

Is sessionStorage more secure than localStorage?

Both options are widely used, but this doesn't mean they are very secure. Tom Abbott summarizes well the JWT sessionStorage and localStorage security: This means that any JavaScript running on your site will have access to web storage, and because of this can be vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.