> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guide.cronuszen.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guide.cronuszen.com/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence.md).

# Data and Persistence

Choose storage by lifetime and ownership, validate every load, and version   persistent layouts.

<figure><img src="https://611779084-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyIhlDMEOMB6JOWTfU9zr%2Fuploads%2FyS8thvXUSvHwA7qJDTDO%2Fstorage-choice.svg?alt=media&amp;token=584049ce-34df-4175-a4e8-cfece4001944" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Choose storage by lifetime and ownership, validate every load, and treat persistent layouts as versioned schemas.

***

Work through these pages in order the first time. Return directly to any page later as a reference.

* [Pick storage by lifetime and ownership](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/pick-storage-by-lifetime-and-ownership.md)
* [Runtime variable budget](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/runtime-variable-budget.md)
* [Const array design](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/const-array-design.md)
* [Dynamic indexes](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/dynamic-indexes.md)
* [Raw data layout](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/raw-data-layout.md)
* [Strings, images, and ADT records](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/strings-images-and-adt-records.md)
* [SPVAR storage](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/spvar-storage.md)
* [Versioned save schema](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/versioned-save-schema.md)
* [Manual bit packing](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/manual-bit-packing.md)
* [BVAR storage](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/bvar-storage.md)
* [Record identity and ownership](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/record-identity-and-ownership.md)
* [Cache expensive persistent access](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/cache-expensive-persistent-access.md)
* [Persistence test matrix](/gpcscripting/gpc-script-guide/data-and-persistence/persistence-test-matrix.md)


---

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