An educational web application that teaches developers when and how to use different browser storage mechanisms. This guide transforms the typical "demo" approach into an actual learning tool that explains storage concepts rather than just showing API usage.
By the end of this guide, you'll understand:
- When to choose each storage type based on your use case
- How to implement them properly with security best practices
- Why certain limitations exist and how to work around them
- What the real-world implications are for security, privacy, and user experience
Use the interactive decision tree in the app to determine which storage type fits your needs, or read the detailed explanations below.
| Storage Type | Size Limit | Persistence | Scope | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookies | ~4KB | Configurable (mins-years) | Domain + path | Authentication, tracking, small preferences |
| Local Storage | ~5-10MB | Permanent | Origin | User settings, cached data, app preferences |
| Session Storage | ~5-10MB | Until tab closes | Origin + tab | Temp form data, UI state, wizard flows |
| IndexedDB | ~50MB+ | Permanent | Origin | Complex data, files, offline apps, transactions |
| Cache API | Browser-managed | Until evicted | Origin + cache | PWAs, offline functionality, performance |
- Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Local web server (for full Service Worker/Cache API functionality)
- Clone this repository
- Start a local server:
python -m http.server 8000 # or use any local server like VSCode Live Server - Open
http://localhost:8000in your browser
index.html: Complete educational UI with responsive designmain.js: Interactive demos with proper error handlingstyle.css: Modern, accessible styling with custom design systemsw.js: Service Worker for Cache API demonstration
- Comprehensive Comparisons: Side-by-side analysis of all storage types
- Interactive Decision Tree: Guided approach to choosing the right storage
- Real-world Examples: Practical use cases and code scenarios
- Educational Content: Detailed explanations, limitations, and best practices
- Working Demos: Functional examples you can experiment with
- Accessibility First: WCAG compliant, keyboard navigation, screen reader support
- Start with Comparison: Review the overview table to understand differences
- Use Decision Tree: Answer questions about your use case to get recommendations
- Read Educational Content: Learn about each storage type's capabilities and limitations
- Try Interactive Demos: Experiment with actual APIs in a safe environment
- Apply Best Practices: Understand security implications and proper usage patterns
The guide covers important considerations for each storage type:
- Cookies: Secure flags, SameSite policies, GDPR compliance
- Local/Session Storage: Same-origin policy, data sanitization
- IndexedDB: Transactional integrity, versioning
- Cache API: HTTPS requirements, proper cache invalidation
- Mobile-first approach with breakpoint optimization
- Touch-friendly interactions
- Readable typography scales
- Accessible color contrast
- No external dependencies: Pure HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- Progressive enhancement: Works without JavaScript enabled
- Error handling: Graceful degradation for unsupported features
- Performance focused: Efficient event handling and memory management
This educational resource was designed with UX principles in mind. Contributions should enhance the learning experience without sacrificing accessibility or simplicity.
This project is educational content for developers learning web storage concepts.
UX Approach: This guide addresses a common problem where storage "demos" teach API usage but not decision-making. By providing context, comparisons, and guided learning, developers learn when to use each storage type - not just how.