Writable stores in Svelte

Introduction

Writable stores let you keep and change data that your Svelte app can use anywhere. They help your app remember things and update the screen automatically.

When you want to share data between different parts of your app.

When you need to update data and have the UI change right away.

When you want to keep track of user input or selections.

When you want to save app settings that can change.

When you want to react to data changes in multiple components.

Syntax

Svelte

import { writable } from 'svelte/store';

const storeName = writable(initialValue);

// To update the store:
storeName.set(newValue);

// To update based on current value:
storeName.update(current => newValue);

writable creates a store you can read and write.

Use set to replace the value, and update to change it based on the current value.

Examples

Create a writable store named count starting at 0.

Svelte

import { writable } from 'svelte/store';

const count = writable(0);

Set the count store value to 5.

Svelte

count.set(5);

Increase the current count value by 1.

Svelte

count.update(n => n + 1);

Sample Program

This Svelte component uses a writable store count to keep track of a number. Clicking 'Increase' adds 1 to the count. Clicking 'Reset' sets it back to 0. The count value shows on the page and updates automatically.

Svelte

<script>
  import { writable } from 'svelte/store';

  const count = writable(0);

  function increment() {
    count.update(n => n + 1);
  }

  function reset() {
    count.set(0);
  }
</script>

<button on:click={increment} aria-label="Increase count">Increase</button>
<button on:click={reset} aria-label="Reset count">Reset</button>

<p>Count: {$count}</p>

Important Notes

Use the $ prefix to auto-subscribe to the store in your markup.

Writable stores are reactive: when the value changes, the UI updates automatically.

Always import writable from 'svelte/store' to create writable stores.

Summary

Writable stores hold data you can change and share in Svelte apps.

Use set to replace the value and update to change it based on current value.

Use the $ prefix to read the store value reactively in your components.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a writable store in Svelte?

easy

A. To style components dynamically

B. To hold data that can be changed and shared across components

C. To create static, unchangeable data

D. To handle routing between pages

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand writable store role

   Writable stores in Svelte are designed to hold data that can be changed and shared reactively.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only To hold data that can be changed and shared across components correctly describes writable stores as changeable and shareable data holders.

3. Final Answer:

   To hold data that can be changed and shared across components -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Writable store = changeable shared data [OK]

Hint: Writable stores hold changeable shared data [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing writable stores with static data
• Thinking writable stores handle styling or routing
• Assuming writable stores cannot be updated

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a writable store in Svelte?

easy

A. import { writable } from 'svelte/store'; const count = writable(0);

B. import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const count = readable(0);

C. const count = writable(0); without import

D. import { store } from 'svelte'; const count = store(0);

Solution

1. Step 1: Check import statement

   The writable store must be imported from 'svelte/store' using { writable }.

2. Step 2: Verify store creation syntax

   Creating a writable store uses writable(initialValue), so import { writable } from 'svelte/store'; const count = writable(0); is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   import { writable } from 'svelte/store'; const count = writable(0); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Writable store import and creation = import { writable } from 'svelte/store'; const count = writable(0); [OK]

Hint: Writable stores need import { writable } from 'svelte/store' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using readable instead of writable
• Forgetting to import writable
• Wrong import path or syntax

3. Given this code:

import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
const count = writable(5);
count.update(n => n + 3);
console.log($count);

What will be logged to the console?

medium

A. Error: $count is undefined

B. 8

C. 3

D. 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand store update

   The update method changes the store value from 5 to 8 by adding 3.

2. Step 2: Check usage of $count outside component

   The $ prefix to access store value works only inside Svelte components, not in plain JS code like console.log.

3. Final Answer:

   Error: $count is undefined -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   $ prefix only works inside components [OK]

Hint: Use $ only inside components, not in plain JS [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming $count works outside components
• Ignoring that update changes value
• Expecting console.log to show store value directly

4. What is wrong with this code snippet?

import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
const count = writable(0);
count.set(count + 1);

medium

A. The initial value must be a string

B. You cannot use set on writable stores

C. Missing import for set function

D. count + 1 is invalid because count is a store, not a number

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify what count represents

   count is a writable store object, not a number, so count + 1 is invalid.

2. Step 2: Correct way to update store

   You must use count.update(n => n + 1) or count.set(value) with a number, not count + 1.

3. Final Answer:

   count + 1 is invalid because count is a store, not a number -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Store object + number is invalid [OK]

Hint: Use update or get value before set, not store + number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add number directly to store object
• Forgetting to use update for changes
• Assuming set needs import separately

5. You want to create a writable store that holds a number starting at 10. Then you want to double its value only if it is less than 50. Which code correctly does this?

hard

A. const num = writable(10);
num.set(20);

B. const num = writable(10);
num.set(n => n < 50 ? n * 2 : n);

C. const num = writable(10);
num.update(n => n < 50 ? n * 2 : n);

D. const num = writable(10);
num.update(n => n * 2);

Solution

1. Step 1: Create writable store with initial value 10

   Using writable(10) correctly sets the initial number.

2. Step 2: Use update with condition to double if less than 50

   update receives current value n and returns n*2 if n < 50, else n unchanged, matching requirement.

3. Step 3: Check other options

   const num = writable(10); num.set(n => n < 50 ? n * 2 : n); wrongly uses set with a function, which is invalid. const num = writable(10); num.update(n => n * 2); doubles unconditionally. const num = writable(10); num.set(20); sets fixed 20 ignoring condition.

4. Final Answer:

   const num = writable(10); num.update(n => n < 50 ? n * 2 : n); -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Use update with condition to change value [OK]

Hint: Use update(fn) with condition to change store value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using set with a function instead of a value
• Not applying condition inside update
• Setting fixed value ignoring condition