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Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) · Lección

Uso de la API Chrome Storage

Almacene la configuración y los datos de los usuarios de forma segura y eficiente mediante la API `chrome.storage`, tanto para almacenamiento local como sincronizado.

Uso de la API Chrome Storage es una lección gratuita de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) en CoddyKit. Esta es la lección 3 de 4. Puedes leer la lección completa abajo gratuitamente — luego la practicas en el navegador con un editor de código integrado y un tutor de IA 24/7. Forma parte de la ruta de aprendizaje de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge), y tu progreso se sincroniza en la web y la app de CoddyKit. El curso de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) incluye 4 lecciones en total.

Partes de esta lección aún no han sido traducidas y se muestran en inglés.

Intro to Chrome Storage API

When building browser extensions, you often need to save data. This could be user settings, application state, or cached information.

The chrome.storage API provides a way to store data persistently, meaning it stays even after the browser closes or the extension is updated.

Why Use chrome.storage?

Unlike regular JavaScript variables, data stored with chrome.storage is persistent. Here's why it's a great choice for extensions:

  • Persistence: Data remains after the browser closes and across updates.
  • Security: It's isolated to your extension, preventing conflicts with other extensions or web pages.
  • Asynchronous: Operations don't block the main thread, keeping your extension responsive.
  • Key-Value Store: Easy to store and retrieve data as simple key-value pairs.

Local Storage: chrome.storage.local

The chrome.storage.local area is designed for storing data that should only be available on the current browser profile.

It's ideal for things like temporary user preferences, cached content, or data specific to one browser instance. The storage limit is typically 5MB.

Sync Storage: chrome.storage.sync

For data that users might want to access across different browsers or devices (if they are logged into their Google account), chrome.storage.sync is the solution.

It automatically syncs data across all instances where the user has your extension installed and is logged in. The storage limit is smaller, typically 100KB, with a maximum of 8KB per item.

storage vs. localStorage

You might be familiar with the browser's localStorage. While similar in purpose, chrome.storage is generally preferred for extensions due to key differences:

  • Asynchronous: chrome.storage is async, localStorage is sync (can block UI).
  • Security: chrome.storage is scoped to your extension.
  • Syncing: Only chrome.storage.sync offers cross-device syncing.
  • Availability: chrome.storage works in service workers, localStorage does not.

Saving Data with .set()

To save data, use the .set() method. It takes an object where keys are strings and values can be any JSON-serializable type.

This example saves a user's favorite color. This code would run in your extension's background script.

/* This code would typically run in your background.js */
/* (manifest.json would declare it as a service_worker) */

// Save a single item to local storage
chrome.storage.local.set({ 'favoriteColor': 'blue' }, function() {
  if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
    console.error("Error saving color: ", chrome.runtime.lastError);
  } else {
    console.log("Favorite color saved!");
  }
});

// Save multiple items to sync storage
chrome.storage.sync.set({
  'userName': 'Coddy',
  'darkMode': true
}, function() {
  if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
    console.error("Error saving user settings: ", chrome.runtime.lastError);
  } else {
    console.log("User settings saved to sync!");
  }
});

Retrieving Data with .get()

To get data back, use the .get() method. You can specify keys, or pass null to get all items.

The callback function receives an object containing the requested data, or an empty object if the key isn't found.

/* This code would typically run in your background.js */

// Get a single item from local storage
chrome.storage.local.get('favoriteColor', function(data) {
  const color = data.favoriteColor;
  if (color) {
    console.log("Your favorite color is: " + color);
  } else {
    console.log("Favorite color not set locally.");
  }
});

// Get multiple items from sync storage
chrome.storage.sync.get(['userName', 'darkMode'], function(data) {
  const userName = data.userName || 'Guest';
  const darkMode = data.darkMode || false;
  console.log(`Hello, ${userName}! Dark mode: ${darkMode}`);
});

// Get all items from local storage (use with caution for large data)
chrome.storage.local.get(null, function(data) {
  console.log("All local storage data:", data);
});

Removing Data: .remove() & .clear()

Sometimes you need to delete stored data. You can remove specific items or clear all data for your extension.

  • .remove(keys): Deletes one or more specific items.
  • .clear(): Removes all data from the storage area for your extension.
/* This code would typically run in your background.js */

// Remove a single item from local storage
chrome.storage.local.remove('favoriteColor', function() {
  if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
    console.error("Error removing color: ", chrome.runtime.lastError);
  } else {
    console.log("Favorite color removed from local storage.");
  }
});

// Remove multiple items from sync storage
chrome.storage.sync.remove(['userName', 'darkMode'], function() {
  if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
    console.error("Error removing settings: ", chrome.runtime.lastError);
  } else {
    console.log("User settings removed from sync storage.");
  }
});

// Clear all data from local storage (use with extreme caution!)
// chrome.storage.local.clear(function() {
//   if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
//     console.error("Error clearing local storage: ", chrome.runtime.lastError);
//   } else {
//     console.log("Local storage cleared!");
//   }
// });

Listening for Storage Changes

Your extension can react when its stored data changes using the chrome.storage.onChanged event listener.

This is useful if different parts of your extension (like a popup and a background script) need to know when data is updated.

The listener provides details about what changed (newValue, oldValue) and in which storage area (local, sync).

/* This code would typically run in your background.js */

chrome.storage.onChanged.addListener(function(changes, areaName) {
  console.log("Storage area '" + areaName + "' changed.");
  for (let [key, { oldValue, newValue }] of Object.entries(changes)) {
    console.log(
      `Key "${key}" changed. ` +
      `Old value was "${oldValue}", new value is "${newValue}".`
    );
  }
});

// To demonstrate, let's change a value after a short delay
setTimeout(() => {
  chrome.storage.local.set({'favoriteColor': 'green'}, function() {
    if (!chrome.runtime.lastError) {
      console.log("Color updated to trigger onChanged listener.");
    }
  });
}, 2000);

Declaring the Storage Permission

To use the chrome.storage API, your extension needs to declare the "storage" permission in its manifest.json file.

Without this permission, attempts to use chrome.storage will fail with an error, and your extension won't be able to save or retrieve data.

{
  "manifest_version": 3,
  "name": "My Storage Extension",
  "version": "1.0",
  "permissions": [
    "storage"
  ],
  "background": {
    "service_worker": "background.js"
  }
}

Storage API Quick Check

Which of the following statements about chrome.storage are TRUE?

Recap: Mastering Data Persistence

You've learned how to persist data in your browser extensions using the chrome.storage API!

  • We covered .local for browser-specific data and .sync for cross-device syncing.
  • You now know how to .set(), .get(), .remove(), and .clear() data.
  • We also explored reacting to changes with .onChanged and the crucial "storage" permission.

This knowledge is vital for building robust and user-friendly extensions that remember user preferences and states.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿La lección «Uso de la API Chrome Storage» es gratis?

Sí — el texto completo de «Uso de la API Chrome Storage» es gratis para leer aquí en la web. Para practicarla de forma interactiva (editor de código integrado y tutor de IA 24/7) y desbloquear el resto del curso de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge), actualiza a CoddyKit PRO. El curso de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) incluye 4 lecciones en total.

¿Qué aprenderé en «Uso de la API Chrome Storage»?

Almacene la configuración y los datos de los usuarios de forma segura y eficiente mediante la API `chrome.storage`, tanto para almacenamiento local como sincronizado. Practicas Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) con código real que ejecutas directamente en el navegador, y un tutor de IA 24/7 responde tus preguntas mientras trabajas en la lección.

¿Necesito experiencia previa para empezar Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge)?

No se requiere experiencia previa. Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) en CoddyKit está estructurado para principiantes hasta estudiantes avanzados, así que puedes empezar aquí o desde el inicio y avanzar a tu ritmo. Esta es la lección 3 de 4.

¿Cuánto tiempo toma la lección «Uso de la API Chrome Storage»?

La mayoría de las lecciones de CoddyKit toman alrededor de 5–10 minutos. Cada una es compacta e interactiva, así que avanzas constantemente y retomas exactamente por donde dejaste en la web y la app.

¿Puedo escribir y ejecutar código en esta lección de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge)?

Sí. Cada lección de Browser Extensions Development (Chrome & Edge) incluye un editor de código integrado, así que escribes y ejecutas código real directamente en tu navegador y obtienes retroalimentación instantánea de IA — sin configuración local necesaria.

Todas las lecciones de este curso

  1. Patrones de mensajería unidireccional
  2. Mensajería bidireccional entre componentes
  3. Uso de la API Chrome Storage
  4. Almacenamiento sincronizado frente a local y cuotas
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