Chapter 9: Mobile Data Storage
As we will be focusing on mobile devices in the next few chapters, we'll need a way to save settings, pictures, audio clips, and a plethora of other pieces of information. Mobile applications often communicate with a server to send data back and forth, as we'll see in the next section of this book, but it's also useful to be able to store data locally. Sometimes, this is for looking up information, such as downloaded maps, while other times, you just want to store data temporarily to conserve cell phone data and then upload when you're in proximity to Wi-Fi. And, of course, there are times when no network is available at all –mobile apps are expected to be flexible and robust, no matter the situation.
If your data needs are simple, one or more files may be all you need to deal with. But sooner or later, the benefits of a relational database will encourage you to look at the powerful storage and retrieval mechanisms of using...