When to Use LocalStorage vs IndexedDB

Updated

LocalStorage Can Break Your Page 🧑‍💻

LocalStorage has some limitations which may break your page if quotas are exceeded. 🤯

Therefore, I will compare it to an alternative called IndexedDB today. 💿

Storage Cap

LocalStorage is limited to ~5MB, great for small data. IndexedDB shines with much more space, perfect for complex data needs.

Data Format

Key-value pairs in LocalStorage (all strings) vs structured, object storage in IndexedDB - a win for complex queries!

Sync vs Async

LocalStorage runs sync, can slow things down. IndexedDB's async nature keeps things smooth and performant.

Transactions

No transactions in LocalStorage; each action stands alone. IndexedDB supports transactions, bundling multiple actions for data integrity.

Browser Support:

Both are widely supported, but IndexedDB might have slight variations across browsers. 🌎

Use Cases

LocalStorage? Think user prefs or small app states. IndexedDB? Ideal for offline storage, large datasets, and complex data management.

Security

Both adhere to same-origin policy, ensuring data is accessible only within its origin domain. 🔐

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