What are the differences between local storage and cookies?

What are the differences between local storage and cookies?

Local storage and cookies are both used for storing data in the browser, but they have key differences. Local storage can hold larger amounts of data and persists until explicitly deleted, while cookies are limited in size and have expiration dates.

When should I use local storage instead of cookies?

Use local storage when you need to store larger amounts of data that don't need to be sent to the server with every request. It's great for saving user preferences or application state.

Are there any security concerns with using local storage?

Yes, local storage is accessible via JavaScript, so if your site is vulnerable to XSS attacks, an attacker could access the data stored there. Always validate and sanitize user inputs.

Can I use both local storage and cookies together?

Absolutely! You can use both to leverage their strengths. For example, use cookies for session management and local storage for storing user preferences.

What are some best practices for using cookies?

Some best practices include setting the Secure and HttpOnly flags, using SameSite attributes to prevent CSRF attacks, and keeping cookie sizes small.