Differences Between cookies and local storage
| Feature | Cookies | Local Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4 KB | 5 MB |
| Data Type | Strings | Any JavaScript Object |
| Sending Data to the Server | Sent with each request | Not sent with requests |
| Expiration | Can be set to expire at a specific date or time | Persists until manually cleared or deleted |
| Sharing between Subdomains | Can be shared between subdomains with proper configuration | Limited to the specific domain |
| Security | Can be encrypted for added security | No encryption, but stored data can be encrypted by the application |
| Privacy | Can be disabled by users in their browser settings | Not affected by user browser settings |
| Accessibility | Available in all modern browsers | Available in all modern browsers |
| Performance | Slower than local storage | Faster than cookies |
| API | Simple API for basic operations | More robust API with more advanced operations |
| Usage | Best for small amounts of data and for tracking user behavior | Best for large amounts of data that needs to persist between visits |
Conclusion: When choosing between local storage and cookies, it’s important to consider the amount of data you need to store, as well as the security and privacy requirements of the application. Cookies are a good option for small amounts of data that need to be sent to the server with each request, while local storage is better suited for larger amounts of data that need to persist between visits to the website.
Local Storage vs Cookies
In JavaScript, there are three main mechanisms for storing data on the client side: local storage, session storage, and cookies. In this article, we are going to discuss the difference between local storage and cookies.
Let us now understand both of them with their practical implementation inside the code examples.