LocalStorage vs Session Storage

Developers should use LocalStorage when they need to persist non-sensitive user data like preferences, form drafts, or application state locally in the browser, particularly for progressive web apps (PWAs) or offline functionality meets developers should use session storage when they need to store temporary, session-specific data such as form inputs, shopping cart items, or user preferences that should not persist beyond the current browsing session. Here's our take.

LocalStorage

Nice Pick

Developers should use LocalStorage when they need to persist non-sensitive user data like preferences, form drafts, or application state locally in the browser, particularly for progressive web apps (PWAs) or offline functionality

Pros

• It's ideal for scenarios requiring simple client-side storage without complex setup, such as remembering user settings, caching small datasets, or maintaining session-like state across page reloads, but should be avoided for sensitive data due to lack of encryption and XSS vulnerabilities
• Related to: session-storage, indexeddb

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Session Storage

Developers should use Session Storage when they need to store temporary, session-specific data such as form inputs, shopping cart items, or user preferences that should not persist beyond the current browsing session

Pros

• It is particularly useful for single-page applications (SPAs) to maintain state during navigation without server requests, and for security-sensitive data that should be cleared when the session ends to prevent unauthorized access from other users on shared devices
• Related to: local-storage, cookies

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. LocalStorage is a web-api while Session Storage is a concept. We picked LocalStorage based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

LocalStorage wins

Based on overall popularity. LocalStorage is more widely used, but Session Storage excels in its own space.