SessionStorage Basics
Store and retrieve data in sessionStorage
JavaScript SessionStorage Basics Program
This program helps you to learn the fundamental structure and syntax of JavaScript programming.
// Method 1: Set item
sessionStorage.setItem('sessionId', 'abc123');
sessionStorage.setItem('pageViews', '5');
sessionStorage.setItem('lastPage', '/home');
// Method 2: Get item
const sessionId = sessionStorage.getItem('sessionId');
console.log('Session ID:', sessionId);
// Method 3: Remove item
sessionStorage.removeItem('pageViews');
// Method 4: Clear all
// sessionStorage.clear();
// Method 5: Store object
const sessionData = {
userId: 123,
username: 'John',
loginTime: new Date().toISOString()
};
sessionStorage.setItem('sessionData', JSON.stringify(sessionData));
const storedData = JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem('sessionData'));
console.log('Session Data:', storedData);
// Method 6: Update page views
let pageViews = parseInt(sessionStorage.getItem('pageViews') || '0');
pageViews++;
sessionStorage.setItem('pageViews', pageViews.toString());
console.log('Page views:', pageViews);
// Method 7: Track navigation
function trackPage(page) {
const history = JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem('pageHistory') || '[]');
history.push({
page: page,
timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
});
sessionStorage.setItem('pageHistory', JSON.stringify(history));
}
trackPage('/home');
trackPage('/about');
trackPage('/contact');
const history = JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem('pageHistory'));
console.log('Page history:', history);
// Method 8: Temporary form data
function saveFormData(formData) {
sessionStorage.setItem('formData', JSON.stringify(formData));
}
function getFormData() {
const data = sessionStorage.getItem('formData');
return data ? JSON.parse(data) : null;
}
// Save form data
saveFormData({
name: 'John',
email: 'john@example.com',
message: 'Hello'
});
// Retrieve form data
const formData = getFormData();
console.log('Form data:', formData);
// Method 9: Session timeout
function setSessionTimeout(minutes) {
const expiry = new Date().getTime() + (minutes * 60 * 1000);
sessionStorage.setItem('sessionExpiry', expiry.toString());
}
function isSessionValid() {
const expiry = sessionStorage.getItem('sessionExpiry');
if (!expiry) return false;
return new Date().getTime() < parseInt(expiry);
}
setSessionTimeout(30); // 30 minutes
console.log('Session valid:', isSessionValid());
// Method 10: Clear on tab close
window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function() {
// sessionStorage is automatically cleared when tab closes
// But you can add cleanup code here
console.log('Tab closing, sessionStorage will be cleared');
});Session ID: abc123
Session Data: { userId: 123, username: 'John', loginTime: '2024-01-01T12:00:00.000Z' }
Page views: 6
Page history: [
{ page: '/home', timestamp: '2024-01-01T12:00:00.000Z' },
{ page: '/about', timestamp: '2024-01-01T12:00:01.000Z' },
{ page: '/contact', timestamp: '2024-01-01T12:00:02.000Z' }
]
Form data: { name: 'John', email: 'john@example.com', message: 'Hello' }
Session valid: trueUnderstanding SessionStorage Basics
sessionStorage stores data for one session.
Key Differences from localStorage
Use Cases
Methods
When to Use
Best Practices
Let us now understand every line and the components of the above program.
Note: To write and run JavaScript programs, you need to set up the local environment on your computer. Refer to the complete article Setting up JavaScript Development Environment. If you do not want to set up the local environment on your computer, you can also use online IDE to write and run your JavaScript programs.
Practical Learning Notes for SessionStorage Basics
This JavaScript program is part of the "LocalStorage/SessionStorage" topic and is designed to help you build real problem-solving confidence, not just memorize syntax. Start by understanding the goal of the program in plain language, then trace the logic line by line with a custom input of your own. Once you can predict the output before running the code, your understanding becomes much stronger.
A reliable practice pattern is to run the original version first, then modify only one condition or variable at a time. Observe how that single change affects control flow and output. This deliberate style helps you understand loops, conditions, and data movement much faster than copying full solutions repeatedly.
For interview preparation, explain this solution in three layers: the high-level approach, the step-by-step execution, and the time-space tradeoff. If you can teach these three layers clearly, you are ready to solve close variations of this problem under time pressure.