Networked Data Store API

NetworkedDataStore is a persistent key-value store that registers itself in a global name registry, allowing any computer to access its data via the network API (net:getDataStore(name)) without the owning entity being loaded.

Unlike the regular DataStore, access control is configured programmatically rather than through adjacent permission blocks.

Key differences from DataStore

Feature	DataStore	Networked Data Store
Access when entity unloaded	No	Yes
Access control	Adjacent permission blocks	Configurable via setAccessLevel()
Network-accessible	No	Yes, via net:getDataStore(name)
Requires registration	No	Yes, must call register(name)
Data on block destruction	Preserved	Deleted

Setup (on the entity with the block)

-- Wrap the Networked Data Store block
local nds = peripheral.wrap("networked_data_store")

-- Register with a globally unique name
nds:register("faction-market-prices")

-- Set access level: "entity", "faction", or "public"
nds:setAccessLevel("public")

-- Write data
nds:set("iron_ore", "150")
nds:set("gold_ore", "500")

Remote access (from any computer, anywhere)

-- Get a handle by name - no entity load required
local store = net:getDataStore("faction-market-prices")

if store then
    print(store:getValue("iron_ore"))   -- "150"
    store:set("iron_ore", "175")        -- write back

    local keys = store:keys()
    for i = 1, #keys do
        print(keys[i], store:getValue(keys[i]))
    end
end

Access levels

Level	Who can access
"entity" (default)	Only computers on the same entity as the block. Remote access via net:getDataStore() is denied.
"faction"	Any computer belonging to the same faction as the block’s owning entity.
"public"	Any computer, regardless of faction.

Access level is set via setAccessLevel() and can only be changed by a computer on the same entity as the block.

Block peripheral reference

These methods are available when wrapping the physical block via peripheral.wrap().

Registration & configuration

• register(name: String) Registers this store in the global registry with the given name. Names must be globally unique, 1-64 characters, and contain only letters, digits, hyphens, and underscores. Returns false if the name is already taken.

• unregister() Removes this store from the global registry and deletes all its data. Returns true on success.

• isRegistered() Returns true if this store is currently registered in the global registry.

• getStoreName() Returns the registered name, or nil if not yet registered.

• setAccessLevel(level: String) Sets the access level to "entity", "faction", or "public". Requires the computer to be on the same entity.

• getAccessLevel() Returns the current access level as a string.

• getStoreId() Returns the persistent UUID backing this store’s data.

• getOwnerFactionId() Returns the integer faction ID of the entity this block is installed on.

Data access

• getValue(key: String) Returns the value stored at key, or nil when absent.

• set(key: String, value: String) Stores value under key. Pass nil as the value to delete the key.

• delete(key: String) Removes key. Returns true when a key was actually present.

• has(key: String) Returns true when key exists in the store.

• keys() Returns a table (array) of all keys in this store.

• keys(prefix: String) Returns a table (array) of all keys that begin with prefix.

• size() Returns the total number of keys currently stored.

Remote handle reference (RemoteDataStore)

These methods are available on the handle returned by net:getDataStore(name).

Data access

• getValue(key: String) - Returns value at key, or nil.

• set(key: String, value: String) - Stores value under key.

• delete(key: String) - Removes key. Returns true if present.

• has(key: String) - Returns true if key exists.

• keys() - Returns table of all keys.

• keys(prefix: String) - Returns table of keys starting with prefix.

• size() - Returns total key count.

Info

• getStoreName() - Returns the registered name.

• getAccessLevel() - Returns the access level string.

• getOwnerFactionId() - Returns the owning faction ID.

Limits

Item	Limit
Store name length	64 characters
Store name characters	Letters, digits, hyphens, underscores
Key length	256 characters
Value length	65 536 characters (64 KiB)
Keys per store	10 000

Exceeding any limit raises a Lua error.

Notes

• Data is destroyed when the block is removed or killed. This is intentional - the block is the authority for the data’s lifecycle.

• Names are case-insensitive and globally unique across all factions.

• The store’s UUID is assigned when the block is placed and never changes.

• Data is stored at <worldData>/datastores/<uuid>.json (same system as regular DataStore).

• The global name registry is stored at <worldData>/networked_datastores.json.

• A store with "entity" access level cannot be accessed remotely via net:getDataStore(). Set access to "faction" or "public" for remote access.