Indexed Database API
The Indexed Database API (commonly referred to as IndexedDB) is a JavaScript application programming interface (API) provided by web browsers for managing a NoSQL database of JSON objects. It is a standard maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).[1]
As an alternative to the Web storage standard, IndexedDB can provide more storage capacity. Web storage has fixed limits per website, but IndexedDB limits are "usually quite large, if they exist at all".[2]
Use cases for IndexedDB include caching web application data for offline availability.[3] Some browser modules, such as devtools or extensions, may also use it for storage.
History
Support for IndexedDB was added to Firefox version 4,[4] Google Chrome version 11,[5] and Internet Explorer version 10.[6] Safari added support in version 8.[7]
Web SQL Database was a prior API developed by Apple.[8] But Firefox refused to add support for it and argued against it becoming a standard because it would codify the quirks of SQLite.[9][10] It was thus deprecated in favor of IndexedDB.[11]
References
- "IndexedDB API". W3.org. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
- "Working with IndexedDB". Google. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "Using IndexedDB". MDN. Mozilla. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "IndexedDB - MDC Doc Center". Developer.mozilla.org. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
- "Web Platform Status". The Chromium Projects. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
- IndexedDB, MSDN, 2012-03-14, retrieved 2012-05-24
- "What's New in macOS". Apple. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
- Shankland, Stephen (2010-03-12). "Consensus emerges for key Web app standard | Deep Tech - CNET News". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
- "Well, I'm Back: Not Implementing Features Is Hard". Weblogs.mozillazine.org. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
- "Beyond HTML5: Database APIs and the Road to IndexedDB – Mozilla Hacks - the Web developer blog". Mozilla Hacks – the Web developer blog.
- "html5 - Why is Web SQL database deprecated?". Software Engineering Stack Exchange.