How to Set Expiration for Data in HTML5 Local Storage?

Data Expiration in HTML5 Local Storage

When utilizing localStorage for storing data in HTML5's DOM Storage, a question arises regarding its expiration. Is there a way to define an expiration period for items saved in local storage?

The local storage API does not provide an explicit mechanism for setting expiration times for individual items. Data remains stored indefinitely or until it is manually deleted or overwritten.

Workaround: Tracking Expiration Using a Timestamp

To address this limitation, it is recommended to incorporate a timestamp directly into the object you store in local storage. This enables you to monitor the data's age and take appropriate actions when necessary.

var object = {value: "value", timestamp: new Date().getTime()}
localStorage.setItem("key", JSON.stringify(object));

Retrieving and Comparing Timestamps

var object = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("key")),
    dateString = object.timestamp,
    now = new Date().getTime().toString();

compareTime(dateString, now); //to implement

The compareTime function would compare the stored timestamp with the current time to determine whether the data has expired.

Alternative Solution: localstorage-slim.js

As an alternative to manually handling expiration, consider leveraging a lightweight wrapper library like localstorage-slim.js. This library offers an API for storing objects with automatic expiration management.

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