Friday, November 21, 2025
HomeLanguagesJavascriptp5.js getItem() Function

p5.js getItem() Function

The getItem() function is used to retrieve the value that has been stored using the storeItem() function under the given key name from the local storage of the browser. It returns a null value if the key is not found.

The local storage persists between browsing sessions and can store the values even after reloading the page unless it is cleared.

Syntax:

getItem(key)

Parameters: This function accepts a single parameter as mentioned above and described below:

  • key: This is a string which denotes the key for which the value has to be retrieved.

Return Value: It returns the value of the stored item, which can be a String, Number, Boolean, Object, p5.Color or a p5.Vector.

Below example illustrates the getItem() function in p5.js:

Example:




function setup() {
  createCanvas(500, 300);
  textSize(20);
  text("Use the button to set and retrieve random values", 20, 20);
  
  getBtn = createButton('Get items from storage');
  getBtn.position(20, 150);
  getBtn.mouseClicked(retrieveStorage)
  
  setBtn = createButton('Set items to storage');
  setBtn.position(20, 180);
  setBtn.mouseClicked(setStorage)
}
  
function retrieveStorage() {
  clear();
  text("Use the button to set and retrieve random values", 20, 20);
  
  // retrieve values from local storage
  num = getItem('savedNumber');
  string = getItem('savedString');
  bool = getItem('savedBoolean');
  
  // display the values
  text("The retrieved items are:", 20, 40);
  text("Number: " + num, 20, 60);
  text("String: " + string, 20, 80);
  text("Boolean: " + bool, 20, 100);
}
  
function setStorage() {
  // generate random values
  randomNum = floor(random(100));
  randomStr = "Random String " + randomNum;
  randomBool = randomNum > 50 ? true : false;
  
  // store values to local storage
  storeItem('savedNumber', randomNum);
  storeItem('savedString', randomStr);
  storeItem('savedBoolean', randomBool);
}


Output:

Online editor: https://editor.p5js.org/
Environment Setup: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/p5-js-soundfile-object-installation-and-methods/

Reference: https://p5js.org/reference/#/p5/getItem

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Dominic
32405 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
97 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6781 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
11928 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
11997 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
6907 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7166 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6862 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6847 POSTS0 COMMENTS