Cookies vs Local Storage vs Session Storage

Cookies

Cookies are data, stored in small text files, on your computer.

// Create a Cookie with JavaScript
document.cookie = "username=Manthan Ankolekar";

// With expiry date (in UTC time)
document.cookie = "username=Manthan Ankolekar; expires=Thu, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 UTC";

// With a path parameter
document.cookie = "username=Manthan Ankolekar; expires=Thu, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 UTC; path=/";

// Read a Cookie with JavaScript
let data = document.cookie;

// Change a Cookie with JavaScript
document.cookie = "username=Manthan Ank; expires=Thu, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 UTC; path=/";

// Delete a Cookie with JavaScript
document.cookie = "username=; expires=Thu, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 UTC; path=/";

Local Storage

Local storage object let you store key/value pairs in the browser.

Syntax -

window.localStorage
// or
localStorage

// Save Data to Local Storage
localStorage.setItem(key, value);

// Read Data from Local Storage
let data = localStorage.getItem(key);

// Remove Data from Local Storage
localStorage.removeItem(key);

// Remove All (Clear Local Storage)
localStorage.clear();

Session Storage

Session storage object allows you to save key/value pairs in the browser.

Syntax -

window.sessionStorage
// or
sessionStorage

// Save Data to Session Storage
sessionStorage.setItem("key", "value");

// Read Data from Session Storage
let data = sessionStorage.getItem("key");

// Remove Data from Session Storage
sessionStorage.removeItem("key");

// Remove All (Clear Session Storage)
sessionStorage.clear();

Difference between Cookies vs Local Storage vs Sesssion Storage

	Cookies	Local Storage	Session Storage
Stoage Capacity	4kb	10mb	5mb
Browser Support	HTML4/HTML5	HTML5	HTML5
Accessibility	Any Browser Window	Any Browser Window	Same Browser Tab
Expiry	Can set Manually	Never	On Browser Tab Closes
Stored In	Browser & Server	Browser Only	Browser Only
Sent with requests	Yes	No	No
Supported Data Types	Strings Only	Strings Only	Strings Only
Auto Expiry	Yes	No	Yes
Edit/block	Yes	Yes	Yes
SSL Support	Yes	No	No