Web SQL Database

From HandWiki
Short description: Deprecated Web browser API

Web SQL Database is a deprecated web browser API specification for storing data in databases that can be queried using SQL variant.[1][2] The technology was only ever implemented in Blink-based and WebKit-based browsers like Google Chrome and the new Microsoft Edge. (As of September 2023), WebSQL is being phased out in favor of WebStorage and IndexedDB and OPFS, but still available in some contexts.

Support

The API is supported by Google Chrome,[3] Opera,[4] Microsoft Edge,[5] and the Android Browser, albeit support is slowly being phased out.[6] Web SQL was deprecated and removed for third-party contexts in Chromium 97. Web SQL access in insecure contexts is deprecated as of Chrome/Chromium 105 at which time a warning message will be shown in the Chrome DevTools Issue panel. It will be removed from Chrome 123.[7]

Timeline

In January 2010, Google announced availability of WebSQL Database API in Google Chrome.[8]

Mozilla Corporation was one of the major voices behind the break-up of negotiations and deprecation of the standard, while at the same time being the main proponents behind an 'alternative storage' standard, IndexedDB.[9][10] Mozilla argued that ratification of WebSQL as a standard would codify the quirks of SQLite implementation.[11][12]

In November 2010, the W3C Web Applications Working Group ceased working on the specification, citing a lack of independent implementations (i.e. using database system other than SQLite as the backend) as the reason the specification could not move forward to become a W3C Recommendation.[1]

In September 2019, Apple released Safari 13 which removed WebSQL entirely.

In November 2021, Chrome 97 removed WebSQL support in third-party contexts.[13]

In February 2023, Chrome 110 removed WebSQL support in insecure contexts but allowed exceptions set with an enterprise policy.

In October 2023, Chrome 119 was shipped with WebSQL disabled in all contexts by default, with an ability to re-enable it until Chrome 123 via an enterprise policy in some contexts.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Web SQL Database (W3C Working Group Note)". W3.org. http://www.w3.org/TR/webdatabase/. 
  2. Nelson, Anne Fulcher, and Nelson, William Harris Morehead. (2001). Building Electronic Commerce with Web Database Constructions. Boston, MA: Addison Wesley.
  3. Fette, Ian (25 January 2010). "Chromium Blog: More Resources for Developers". Blog.chromium.org. https://blog.chromium.org/2010/01/more-resources-for-developers.html. 
  4. "Can I use Web SQL Database". Caniuse.com. http://caniuse.com/sql-storage. 
  5. "View Web SQL Data". learn.microsoft.com. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/devtools-guide-chromium/storage/websql. 
  6. "Deprecating and removing Web SQL". Chrome Developers. 31 August 2022. https://developer.chrome.com/blog/deprecating-web-sql/. 
  7. "What's New in DevTools (Chrome 119)" (in en). 2023-10-10. https://developer.chrome.com/blog/new-in-devtools-119/#web-sql. 
  8. Fette, Ian. "More Resources for Developers" (in en). https://blog.chromium.org/2010/01/more-resources-for-developers.html. 
  9. "Why is WebSQL database deprecated?". http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/220254/why-is-web-sql-database-deprecated. 
  10. "Beyond HTML5: Database APIs and the Road to IndexedDB". Mozilla Corporation. https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/06/beyond-html5-database-apis-and-the-road-to-indexeddb/. 
  11. "Well, I'm Back: Not Implementing Features Is Hard". Weblogs.mozillazine.org. 2010-06-04. https://robert.ocallahan.org/2010/06/not-implementing-features-is-hard_03.html. 
  12. "Beyond HTML5: Database APIs and the Road to IndexedDB – Mozilla Hacks - the Web developer blog". 2010-06-01. https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/06/beyond-html5-database-apis-and-the-road-to-indexeddb. 
  13. "Chrome Platform Status". https://chromestatus.com/feature/5684870116278272. 
  14. Jara, Adriana (2023-11-01). "New in Chrome 119" (in en). https://developer.chrome.com/blog/new-in-chrome-119/. "WebSQL is fully removed as of Chrome 119. A reverse origin trial allows developers to continue to use WebSQL until Chrome 123." 

External links