Persist Variables Between Page Loads

Have you ever wanted to store information in your web application so that it persists even after a page reload? In this article, we will guide you through the process of persisting variables between page loads using some common techniques in software engineering.

One of the most straightforward ways to achieve this is by using cookies. Cookies are small pieces of data stored on the user's computer by the browser. They can be accessed and modified both on the client and server sides. To store a variable as a cookie, you can set it using JavaScript like this:

document.cookie = "variableName=variableValue; expires=Thu, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 UTC; path=/";

In this code snippet, "variableName" is the name of the variable you want to store, and "variableValue" is the value you want to assign to it. The "expires" attribute specifies the expiration date of the cookie, and the "path" attribute determines the scope of the cookie.

Another common way to persist variables between page loads is by using local storage. Local storage is a more modern alternative to cookies and allows you to store larger amounts of data without affecting your website's performance. To store a variable in local storage, you can do the following in JavaScript:

localStorage.setItem("variableName", "variableValue");

To retrieve the stored variable from local storage, you can use:

const storedVariable = localStorage.getItem("variableName");

When using local storage, keep in mind that the stored data will persist even after the user closes the browser window or tab. It provides a convenient way to maintain user-specific information across different visits to your website.

Session storage is another solution for storing variables between page loads. Similar to local storage, session storage allows you to store data on the client side. However, the key difference is that session storage data is cleared when the browser session ends, such as when the user closes the tab or window. You can store a variable in session storage like this:

sessionStorage.setItem("variableName", "variableValue");

And retrieve it using:

const storedVariable = sessionStorage.getItem("variableName");

Keep in mind that while session storage is ideal for short-term data storage, it may not be suitable for scenarios where you need persistent data across multiple visits to your website.

In conclusion, persisting variables between page loads is essential for maintaining user-specific information and improving the user experience of your web application. By using techniques such as cookies, local storage, and session storage, you can easily store and retrieve variables across page reloads. Experiment with these methods in your projects and see how they can enhance your application's functionality and user interaction.