What is the core concept behind the datastore directory?

[Benjamin Gröner]

Hi community,

I am fairly new to invision community. We are setting up our first community for a customer with it.
So I came across the datastore directory and was wondering what's the core concept behind it.

I see there is much information stored inside it in php files. My first question was, "why php files?"
What I also don't get is what it actually does. Is it configuration data that is stored in it? Is it more like a cache? 
What will happen if I clear the datastore directory? Will the application be broken then, or will it populate again by itself?

Is there a guide that describes more about the datastore directory?

I am happy for any helpful answer.

Thanks and kind regards!

[Daniel F]

14 minutes ago, Benjamin Gröner said:

Is it more like a cache? 

Yes exactly, these files contain data which don't change often.

 

15 minutes ago, Benjamin Gröner said:

What will happen if I clear the datastore directory?

IPS will rebuild them while the next request.

 

Further details and the alternatives to the File System can be found in our guides 

 

 

[Ramsesx]

On 1/13/2022 at 4:01 PM, Daniel F said:

IPS will rebuild them while the next request.

To be 100% clear, if I delete the datastore completely it will not harm any of my content in the forum? Thanks.

[Daniel F]

46 minutes ago, Ramsesx said:

To be 100% clear, if I delete the datastore completely it will not harm any of my content in the forum? Thanks.