Where does realm React-Native store data on mobile apps?

Question

I'm new to mobile development and I need to build a local storage for an app, this is where I've heard of Realm. Could you give me more information about how exactly Realm stores data in the application?

Is it a file or ...? And how do you manage app updates in order to not lose the data already in the user's phone?

Thank you

Answer 1

Realm stores data in a proprietary binary format in a .realm file on the devices filesystem. If you are running the iOS simulator its visible and can be opened with the Realm Browser application.

Realm handles updates in two ways. You can use the Realm Object Server. You would make all changes to a central server and realm handles all the syncing for you. If you want to destructively change the db model you would have to clone your server realm an then serve a new one to the new version of your app. Or if you have local database instances on your devices you handle changes to the DB model with migrations.