When developing a game or application in Unity, one of the critical aspects to consider is how to store and manage data. Unity provides several methods to store data, each suited for different use cases. Here, we will explore three common methods: PlayerPrefs, EditorPrefs, and JSON files, and discuss when to use each.

PlayerPrefs

Don’t save larger data into PlayerPrefs

PlayerPrefs are a simple way to store and access player preferences and other small pieces of data. PlayerPrefs is a key-value storage system, where you can save and retrieve data using string keys.

Common Use Cases:

• Saving player settings (e.g., audio volume, graphics settings).
• Storing player progress or scores.
• Remembering simple user preferences.

// Retrieve data
int highScore = PlayerPrefs.GetInt("HighScore");
float volume = PlayerPrefs.GetFloat("Volume");
string playerName = PlayerPrefs.GetString("PlayerName");

Pros:

• Easy to use and quick to implement.
• Built into Unity, no need for external libraries.

Cons:

• Limited data types (int, float, string)
  • Unity PlayerPrefsExtra gives you the ability to save more complexe data types such as : Vectors, Bool, Colors, Lists, … and it uses the Unity’s PlayerPrefs under the hood. https://github.com/herbou/UnityPlayerPrefsExtra
• Not suitable for large or complex data.
• Data is stored in plain text, which can be easily modified.

EditorPrefs

EditorPrefs is similar to PlayerPrefs but is used specifically for storing data related to the Unity Editor. This can be helpful for saving editor-specific settings and preferences that should persist between sessions.

Common Use Cases:

• Storing custom editor tool settings.
• Remembering window positions and sizes in the Unity Editor.
• Saving editor preferences.

Example:

// Save editor preference
EditorPrefs.SetInt(“CustomToolWindowX”, 100);
EditorPrefs.SetFloat(“CustomToolOpacity”, 0.8f);
EditorPrefs.SetString(“LastOpenProject”, “/Projects/MyGame”);

// Retrieve editor preference
int windowX = EditorPrefs.GetInt(“CustomToolWindowX”);
float opacity = EditorPrefs.GetFloat(“CustomToolOpacity”);
string lastOpenProject = EditorPrefs.GetString(“LastOpenProject”);

Pros:

• Ideal for storing data that should persist across editor sessions.
• Easy to use and integrates well with custom editor scripts.

Cons:

• Limited to editor-only data, not suitable for runtime data.
• Similar limitations to PlayerPrefs in terms of data types.

JSON Files

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a flexible and human-readable format for storing structured data. Unity’s JsonUtility class can be used to serialize and deserialize objects to and from JSON.

Common Use Cases:

• Saving game states.
• Storing complex configurations or settings.
• Sharing data between different parts of the game or with external systems.

Example:

[System.Serializable] public class PlayerData
{
public string playerName;
public int highScore;
public float volume;
}

// Save data to JSON file
PlayerData playerData = new PlayerData { playerName = “JohnDoe”, highScore = 100, volume = 0.5f };
string json = JsonUtility.ToJson(playerData);
File.WriteAllText(Application.persistentDataPath + “/playerData.json”, json);

// Load data from JSON file
string json = File.ReadAllText(Application.persistentDataPath + “/playerData.json”);
PlayerData loadedData = JsonUtility.FromJson(json);

Pros:

• Supports complex data structures.
• Human-readable and easy to debug.
• Can be used to share data across different systems.

Cons:

• Requires more code to implement compared to PlayerPrefs and EditorPrefs.
• Reading and writing to files can be slower and more error-prone.

Choosing the Right Method

When deciding which data storage method to use, consider the following:

1. Simplicity vs. Complexity: For simple, straightforward data like settings and preferences, PlayerPrefs or EditorPrefs are often sufficient. For more complex data, JSON files provide greater flexibility.
2. Runtime vs. Editor: Use PlayerPrefs for runtime data and EditorPrefs for editor-specific data.
3. Data Security: PlayerPrefs and EditorPrefs store data in plain text, which can be easily modified. For more secure data storage, consider using JSON files with encryption or other secure storage methods.
4. Data Size: PlayerPrefs and EditorPrefs are not designed for large amounts of data. For larger or more complex datasets, JSON files are more appropriate.

In summary, PlayerPrefs and EditorPrefs offer quick and easy ways to store simple data, ideal for player preferences and editor settings, respectively. JSON files, on the other hand, provide a more robust solution for handling complex and structured data, suitable for saving game states and configurations. Choose the method that best fits your specific needs and the complexity of the data you need to manage.