Visual Studio Code Storage
You manage visual studio code storage by setting up local folders and system keychains. The editor saves workspace state, extensions, and user settings inside dedicated directories on your disk. Most teams let developers set up their own local workspace directories and extension profiles. When local permissions stay too broad, any installed extension can read saved database keys. Attackers or bad scripts can then use those broad roles to run harmful queries. How visual studio code storage work
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You manage visual studio code storage by setting up local folders and system keychains. The editor saves workspace state, extensions, and user settings inside dedicated directories on your disk. Most teams let developers set up their own local workspace directories and extension profiles. When local permissions stay too broad, any installed extension can read saved database keys. Attackers or bad scripts can then use those broad roles to run harmful queries.
How visual studio code storage works on your machine
The editor splits local data across a few main folders on your computer. One folder holds your global user settings, keybindings, and snippets for all projects. Another folder stores each workspace state, such as open tabs and recent search terms. Extensions live in their own directory and get two distinct state storage areas. Global state lets an extension share simple values across all of your open projects. Workspace state keeps data tied to one specific folder on your local disk. For sensitive items like passwords or tokens, the editor provides a secret storage API. This API sends secrets to the operating system keychain instead of plain text files. Database and cloud extensions use this keychain to save login details between work sessions. When you open a project, the extension reads the saved key and logs in.
What local storage solves and what it leaves open
Using the system keychain stops extensions from writing raw passwords into plain text files. This native design keeps secrets out of version control and simple file backups. It also helps developers switch between projects without typing database passwords every single morning. Still, local storage only controls how the laptop saves and reads the login key. Once an extension logs in, the database keeps the session active with full user permissions. The local setup decides who logs in, not what individual statements do in flight. If an extension holds an admin role, any query can drop tables or export rows. Local disk rules cannot check if a command is safe before it runs. They also cannot mask emails, phone numbers, card numbers, or national IDs in query results. Teams also lack a central audit log showing which developer ran each specific statement.
How to keep local editor storage clean and safe
Teams can take a few practical steps to reduce risk on developer laptops. First, audit the extensions installed across your team and remove unused database tools. Fewer extensions mean fewer background scripts asking to read your local workspace state. Second, tell developers to clear old workspace cache folders when they finish a project. Old cache files can hold query history or sample data from past debugging sessions. Third, avoid saving shared admin keys inside personal editor keychains on local machines. Give each developer a scoped role that only reads the tables they need today. Finally, review how your team syncs editor settings across different work and home computers. Turn off cloud sync for sensitive workspace profiles so production details stay on work machines.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does the editor keep plain text settings and cache files?
The editor saves settings and cache files inside your user profile directory on disk. The exact folder path depends on whether you run Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Are extension passwords saved in plain text on my hard drive?
Well-built extensions use the secret storage API to save keys in your system keychain. Older or poorly built extensions might still write tokens into plain text config files.
How do I clear cached workspace data from my editor?
You can delete the workspace storage folder from your local user data directory. Make sure you close all open editor windows before you remove those cached files.