<!-- Source: https://docs.squirro.com/en/latest/technical/widgets/backbone/dashboard-store.html -->
# Custom Widgets and the Dashboard Store

[Deprecated](../../../getting/release/squirro-release-process.md#getting-squirro-process)

The dashboard store is accessible in the widget using the `widget.dashboard.store` property (usually `this.dashboard.store`). This model is the recommended way for custom widgets to talk to each other. The dashboard store is a [Backbone.js model](http://backbonejs.org/#Model) though without persistence.

Custom widgets should implement the `~Base.onStoreChange` method to listen for changes to the store.

## Architecture

A good example of when to use the store is when there are two widgets on a dashboard that have to communicate with each other.

For example, a navigation widget can be implemented which presents the user with a number of menu options. When clicking on one of the options, the store is updated by setting an attribute.

A second widget reacts to that store value and changes the content to be displayed depending on the set attribute.

## Methods

### get()

`store.get(attribute)`

Get the current value of the store attribute.

**Example**

```javascript
onStoreChange: function () {
    if (this.dashboard.store.get('additionalInfo')) {
        this.$el.addClass('additional-info-requested');
    }
},
```

### set()

store.set(attribute, value)

store.set(attributes)

Set one attribute to the given value or - in the secondary form - update all the key/value pairs from the hash.

If any attribute changes, a `change` event is triggered. The easiest way to subscribe to those in the widget is by implementing the `~Base.onStoreChange` method.

**Example**

```javascript
onRowClicked: function () {
    this.dashboard.store.set({'additionalInfo': true});
},
```

### unset()

`store.unset(attribute)`

If any attribute changes, a `change` event is triggered. The easiest way to subscribe to those in the widget is by implementing the `~Base.onStoreChange` method.

**Example**

```javascript
onRowClicked: function () {
    this.dashboard.store.unset('additionalInfo');
},
```