Dynamic

Session Cookies vs Local Storage

Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data meets developers should use local storage for client-side data that needs to persist between sessions, such as user preferences, form data, or application state in single-page applications. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Session Cookies

Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data

Session Cookies

Nice Pick

Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data

Pros

  • +They are crucial for creating seamless user experiences by avoiding the need to re-enter information and enabling server-side applications to identify and respond to individual users across multiple HTTP requests
  • +Related to: http-cookies, authentication

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Local Storage

Developers should use Local Storage for client-side data that needs to persist between sessions, such as user preferences, form data, or application state in single-page applications

Pros

  • +It's ideal for non-sensitive data due to its accessibility via JavaScript and lack of built-in security features, making it unsuitable for storing passwords or personal information
  • +Related to: session-storage, cookies

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Session Cookies if: You want they are crucial for creating seamless user experiences by avoiding the need to re-enter information and enabling server-side applications to identify and respond to individual users across multiple http requests and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Local Storage if: You prioritize it's ideal for non-sensitive data due to its accessibility via javascript and lack of built-in security features, making it unsuitable for storing passwords or personal information over what Session Cookies offers.

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The Bottom Line
Session Cookies wins

Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev