LocalStorage Basics

Store and retrieve data in localStorage

JavaScriptBeginner
JavaScript
// Method 1: Set item
localStorage.setItem('username', 'John');
localStorage.setItem('age', '30');
localStorage.setItem('isLoggedIn', 'true');

// Method 2: Get item
const username = localStorage.getItem('username');
console.log('Username:', username); // "John"

const age = localStorage.getItem('age');
console.log('Age:', age); // "30" (string)

// Method 3: Remove item
localStorage.removeItem('age');

// Method 4: Clear all
// localStorage.clear();

// Method 5: Check if key exists
if (localStorage.getItem('username')) {
    console.log('Username exists');
}

// Method 6: Get all keys
const keys = Object.keys(localStorage);
console.log('All keys:', keys);

// Method 7: Get all items
for (let i = 0; i < localStorage.length; i++) {
    const key = localStorage.key(i);
    const value = localStorage.getItem(key);
    console.log(key + ':', value);
}

// Method 8: Store object (stringify)
const user = {
    name: 'John',
    age: 30,
    email: '[email protected]'
};

localStorage.setItem('user', JSON.stringify(user));

// Retrieve object (parse)
const storedUser = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('user'));
console.log('User:', storedUser);

// Method 9: Store array
const items = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange'];
localStorage.setItem('items', JSON.stringify(items));

const storedItems = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('items'));
console.log('Items:', storedItems);

// Method 10: Check storage availability
function isLocalStorageAvailable() {
    try {
        const test = '__localStorage_test__';
        localStorage.setItem(test, test);
        localStorage.removeItem(test);
        return true;
    } catch (e) {
        return false;
    }
}

if (isLocalStorageAvailable()) {
    console.log('LocalStorage is available');
} else {
    console.log('LocalStorage is not available');
}

Output

Username: John
Age: 30
Username exists
All keys: ["username", "age", "isLoggedIn"]
username: John
age: 30
isLoggedIn: true
User: { name: 'John', age: 30, email: '[email protected]' }
Items: ["apple", "banana", "orange"]
LocalStorage is available

localStorage persists data across sessions.

Methods

  • setItem(key, value): Store data
  • getItem(key): Retrieve data
  • removeItem(key): Remove item
  • clear(): Remove all
  • key(index): Get key at index
  • length: Number of items

Important Notes

  • Stores strings only
  • Use JSON.stringify/parse for objects
  • Persists until cleared
  • Domain-specific
  • ~5-10MB limit

Use Cases

  • User preferences
  • Shopping cart
  • Form data
  • Cache data

Best Practices

  • Check availability
  • Handle errors
  • Use try-catch
  • Validate data