local-storage

This is a small utility class for storing and retrieving complex values from localStorage. By default, localStorage only saves strings. But by using JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse(), we can save objects, arrays, nulls, Booleans, numbers, and strings. And when using the getItem() method, it will retrieve those values in their native type.

This package also fails gracefully (and silently) in those instances where there is no localStorage available in the client. One example where this can happen is when a user's browser is in Incognito Mode. In such cases, this package will use a simple local object to store the values temporarily. This will provide some semblance of localStorage-like behavior, even if those values will not be present in the next session.

Due to the limitations of JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse(), the integrity of retrieved values cannot be maintained for certain complex values. Specifically, functions will not survive the JSON.stringify()/JSON.parse() process.

Usage

import { local } from '@toolz/local-storage';

local.setItem('theAnswer', 42); // sets the value 42 in localStorage
local.getItem('theAnswer'); // returns the number 42

Methods

.clear()

.clear() empties all values from localStorage.

const API = {
   arguments: {},
   returns: void,
}

Examples:

local.setItem('one', 1);
local.setItem('two', 2);

local.clear();

local.getItem('one'); // returns NULL
local.getItem('two', 22); // return 22

.getItem()

.getItem() retrieves an item from localStorage in its native data type. If it doesn't exist and no default value is provided, it returns NULL. If a default value is provided and the item doesn't exist, it sets the default value as the item and returns that value.

const API = {
   arguments: {
      itemName: {
         required,
         format: 'populated string',
      },
      defaultValue: {
         optional,
         format: any,
      },
   },
   returns: any,
}

Examples:

local.setItem('foo', [1, 2, 3]);
local.setItem('firstName', 'Joe');
local.setItem('address', {street: '101 Main', city: 'fooville'});

local.getItem('foo'); // returns [1, 2, 3]
local.getItem('firstName'); // returns 'Joe'
local.getItem('address'); // returns {street: '101 Main', city: 'fooville'}
local.getItem('notSet'); // returns NULL
local.getItem('anotherNotSet', 3.14); // returns 3.14

.removeItem()

.removeItem() unsets an item from localStorage. If the item didn't previously exist, the method throws no error.

const API = {
   arguments: {
      itemName: {
         required,
         format: 'populated string',
      },
   },
   returns: true,
}

Examples:

local.setItem('foo', [1, 2, 3]);
local.setItem('firstName', 'Joe');

local.removeItem('foo');
local.removeItem('firstName');

local.getItem('foo'); // returns NULL
local.getItem('firstName', 'Mary'); // return 'Mary'

.setItem()

.setItem() sets an item into localStorage. If the item already existed, it will overwrite the previous one. If the item did not exist, it will create a new item.

const API = {
   arguments: {
      itemName: {
         required,
         format: 'populated string',
      },
      itemValue: {
         optional,
         format: any,
      },
   },
   returns: any,
}

Examples:

local.setItem('foo', [1, 2, 3]);
local.setItem('firstName', 'Joe');

local.getItem('foo'); // returns [1, 2, 3]
local.getItem('firstName', 'Mary'); // return 'Joe'