localStorage

[undyingking]

Interesting article on Smashing Magazine about localStorage. In summary, it's a JavaScript object that provides an improved alternative to cookies, for storing data on the user's computer. Looks extremely usable and powerful, but also there has to be a certain yikes! factor I think, about the way it can be used to get round users' cookie-storage privacy preferences.

It's not universally supported, but one of the comments says "this is supported by Firefox 3.5 up, IE8 up, Safari 4, and Chrome 4 up" – which would cover almost all of our users.

Another comment points out that you can do the same thing in Flash. Yes, but probably more users have Flash blocked than have JS blocked?

Comments

[celestialweasel.livejournal.com]

Did you not see the thing about the evil unkillable cookie?
http://samy.pl/evercookie/

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Not only did I see it, I helpfully linked to it in my post above (under "the way it can be used").

[celestialweasel.livejournal.com]

Oops, didn't spot that.