Angular Web Storage: What Every Developer Should Know

Understanding Local Storage and Session Storage

Both Local Storage and Session Storage are part of the Web Storage API and provide a simple key-value storage mechanism. However, they differ in their behavior and lifespan.

1. Local Storage

Local Storage allows data to be stored persistently with no expiration time. This means that even if the user closes the browser and reopens it, the stored data remains available.

Characteristics of Local Storage:

• Data persists until it is manually deleted.
• It can store up to 5MB of data per domain.
• Accessible across all tabs and windows of the same origin.
• Not automatically deleted when the session ends.

Use Cases for Local Storage:

• Storing user preferences (e.g., dark mode settings).
• Caching API responses to reduce server calls.
• Saving authentication tokens for session persistence.

2. Session Storage

Session Storage, on the other hand, is designed for temporary data storage. It stores data only for the duration of the session, meaning that once the user closes the browser or tab, the data is lost.

Characteristics of Session Storage:

• Data is deleted when the session ends (i.e., when the tab or browser is closed).
• It can store up to 5MB of data per domain.
• Only accessible within the same tab or window.
• More secure than Local Storage for temporary data.

Use Cases for Session Storage:

• Storing temporary form data.
• Keeping UI state within a single session.
• Managing one-time authentication flows.

Local Storage vs. Session Storage: When to Choose Which?