DataManager

Phaser's DataManager provides key-value storage with event-driven change tracking. It operates at three levels: per-GameObject (sprite.setData/getData), per-Scene (this.data), and global (this.registry). Every set/change/remove operation emits events, enabling reactive data binding between game systems without tight coupling.

Key source paths: src/data/DataManager.js, src/data/DataManagerPlugin.js, src/data/events/, src/gameobjects/GameObject.js (setData/getData/incData/toggleData) Related skills: ../scenes/SKILL.md, ../events-system/SKILL.md

Quick Start

// Per-GameObject data (auto-creates DataManager on first use)
const gem = this.add.sprite(100, 100, 'gem');
gem.setData('value', 50);
gem.setData({ color: 'red', level: 2 });
gem.getData('value');            // 50
gem.getData(['value', 'color']); // [50, 'red']

// Increment / toggle helpers
gem.incData('value', 10);       // value is now 60
gem.incData('value', -5);       // value is now 55 (negative to decrement)
gem.toggleData('active');        // false -> true (starts from false if unset)

// Scene-level data (this.data is a DataManagerPlugin)
this.data.set('score', 0);
this.data.get('score');          // 0
this.data.values.score += 100;   // triggers changedata event

// Global registry (shared across ALL scenes)
this.registry.set('highScore', 9999);
// Any scene can read it:
this.registry.get('highScore');  // 9999

Core Concepts

DataManager (Phaser.Data.DataManager)

The base class that stores key-value pairs in an internal list object. It provides:

• set(key, value) -- stores a value; emits setdata (new key) or changedata + changedata-{key} (existing key). Accepts an object to set multiple keys at once.
• get(key) -- retrieves a value, or pass an array of keys to get an array of values.
• inc(key, amount) -- increments a numeric value (defaults to +1). Creates from 0 if key does not exist.
• toggle(key) -- flips a boolean value. Creates from false if key does not exist.
• remove(key) -- deletes a key; emits removedata. Accepts an array of keys.
• has(key) -- returns true if the key exists.
• getAll() -- returns a shallow copy of all key-value pairs as a plain object.
• query(regex) -- returns all entries whose keys match the given RegExp.
• each(callback, context, ...args) -- iterates all entries. Callback signature: (parent, key, value, ...args).
• merge(data, overwrite) -- bulk-imports from an object. overwrite defaults to true; set false to skip existing keys.
• pop(key) -- retrieves and deletes a key in one call; emits removedata.
• reset() -- clears all data and unfreezes.
• freeze / setFreeze(bool) -- when frozen, all set/remove/inc/toggle operations silently no-op.
• count -- read-only property returning the number of stored entries.

The values proxy object allows direct property access with event emission:

// After set('gold', 100), you can do:
data.values.gold += 50; // emits changedata and changedata-gold
// But you MUST use set() to create a key first -- direct assignment
// to values for a new key will NOT set up the event proxy.

Scene Data Plugin (Phaser.Data.DataManagerPlugin)

Extends DataManager. Registered as the data scene plugin, accessible as this.data in any Scene. It uses the Scene's event emitter (scene.sys.events), so data events fire on the Scene's event bus.

// In a Scene's create():
this.data.set('lives', 3);

// Listen on the scene's event emitter
this.events.on('changedata-lives', (scene, value, previousValue) => {
    console.log('Lives changed from', previousValue, 'to', value);
});

The plugin auto-cleans on scene shutdown (removes its shutdown listener) and fully destroys on scene destroy.

Registry (Global Data Store)

The registry is a plain DataManager instance on the Game object (game.registry). It has its own dedicated EventEmitter (not shared with any scene). Every scene gets a reference as this.registry via the injection map.

// Scene A sets global data
this.registry.set('currentLevel', 1);

// Scene B reads it
const level = this.registry.get('currentLevel');

// Listen for registry changes (note: events fire on registry.events, NOT this.events)
this.registry.events.on('changedata-currentLevel', (game, value, previousValue) => {
    console.log('Level changed to', value);
});

The registry persists for the lifetime of the Game. It is never automatically cleared on scene restart or shutdown.

Per-GameObject Data

GameObjects do NOT have a DataManager by default. It is created lazily on first call to setData(), getData(), incData(), or toggleData(). You can also explicitly call setDataEnabled().

The DataManager's event emitter is the GameObject itself (which extends EventEmitter), so data events fire directly on the GameObject:

const player = this.add.sprite(0, 0, 'player');
player.setData('hp', 100);

// Listen directly on the game object
player.on('changedata-hp', (gameObject, value, previousValue) => {
    if (value <= 0) {
        gameObject.destroy();
    }
});

Common Patterns

Setting and Getting Data

// Single key
sprite.setData('speed', 200);
sprite.getData('speed'); // 200

// Multiple keys at once (object form)
sprite.setData({ speed: 200, direction: 'left', hp: 100 });

// Batch get with destructuring
const [speed, hp] = sprite.getData(['speed', 'hp']);

// Direct values access (read and write after initial set)
sprite.data.values.speed = 300; // emits changedata event
const s = sprite.data.values.speed; // 300

Listening for Changes

// Listen for ANY data change on a game object
sprite.on('changedata', (gameObject, key, value, previousValue) => {
    console.log(key, 'changed to', value);
});

// Listen for a SPECIFIC key change (preferred -- more efficient)
sprite.on('changedata-hp', (gameObject, value, previousValue) => {
    this.hpBar.setValue(value);
});

// Listen for new data being set (first time only)
sprite.on('setdata', (gameObject, key, value) => {
    console.log('New data key:', key);
});

// Listen for data removal
sprite.on('removedata', (gameObject, key, value) => {
    console.log('Removed:', key, 'was', value);
});

Global Registry for Cross-Scene State

// HUD scene watches for score changes set by the Game scene
// In HUDScene.create():
this.registry.events.on('changedata-score', (game, value) => {
    this.scoreText.setText('Score: ' + value);
});
this.events.once('shutdown', () => {
    this.registry.events.off('changedata-score');
});

// In GameScene.update():
this.registry.set('score', this.score);

Complex Data and Objects

// You can store any value type: numbers, strings, booleans, objects, arrays
sprite.setData('inventory', ['sword', 'shield']);
sprite.setData('stats', { str: 10, dex: 8, int: 12 });

// CAUTION: mutating a stored object/array does NOT trigger changedata
const inv = sprite.getData('inventory');
inv.push('potion');
// No event fired! The reference didn't change.

// To trigger the event, re-set the key:
sprite.setData('inventory', [...inv]); // new array reference triggers changedata

Merging Data

// Merge defaults -- only sets keys that don't already exist
sprite.data.merge({ hp: 100, speed: 200, armor: 0 }, false);

// Merge and overwrite existing values
sprite.data.merge(savedState, true);

Querying Data by Pattern

// Find all keys matching a regex
this.data.set('enemy_1_hp', 50);
this.data.set('enemy_2_hp', 80);
this.data.set('player_hp', 100);

const enemyData = this.data.query(/^enemy_/);
// { enemy_1_hp: 50, enemy_2_hp: 80 }

Freezing Data

// Prevent all modifications (set, remove, inc, toggle all become no-ops)
sprite.data.freeze = true;
sprite.setData('hp', 0); // silently ignored
sprite.data.freeze = false;
sprite.setData('hp', 0); // works again

// Also available as a chainable method
sprite.data.setFreeze(true);

Data Persistence Pattern

// Save to localStorage
function saveGame(scene) {
    const state = scene.data.getAll();
    localStorage.setItem('saveData', JSON.stringify(state));
}

// Restore from localStorage
function loadGame(scene) {
    const raw = localStorage.getItem('saveData');
    if (raw) {
        scene.data.merge(JSON.parse(raw), true);
    }
}

Events

All data events are defined in Phaser.Data.Events. The emitter depends on context: for GameObjects it is the GameObject itself; for scene data it is scene.sys.events; for the registry it is registry.events.

The parent argument is the owner of the DataManager (the GameObject, Scene, or Game instance).

Note: CHANGE_DATA_KEY is a prefix. The actual event string is 'changedata-' + the key name. For example, setting a key called score emits 'changedata-score'.

API Quick Reference

GameObject Convenience Methods

DataManager Methods

get() vs values -- Copies vs Live References

Understanding the difference between get() and values is critical for correct data updates:

// get() returns a copy for primitives -- modifying the local variable does NOT update the DataManager
let score = this.data.get('score');
score += 10;  // local copy only, DataManager still has the old value

// values provides a live proxy -- assignment triggers CHANGE_DATA event
this.data.values.score += 10;  // updates the DataManager AND emits changedata-score

// For objects, get() returns the stored reference (not a deep copy)
const stats = this.data.get('stats');
stats.hp -= 10; // mutates the stored object but does NOT trigger events
this.data.set('stats', { ...stats }); // re-set with new reference to trigger event

Event Emitter Routing

Data events emit on different targets depending on where the DataManager lives:

The key-specific event 'changedata-{key}' fires only for that exact key, while the generic 'changedata' fires for every key change. Always prefer key-specific listeners for performance.

Gotchas

Keys Are Case-Sensitive

'gold' and 'Gold' are two different keys. Be consistent with naming conventions.

values Proxy Requires set() First

You must call set(key, value) to create a key before modifying it via data.values.key. Direct assignment to values for a brand-new key will NOT create the event proxy -- it creates a plain property that emits no events.

Object/Array Mutation Does Not Trigger Events

Mutating a stored object or array in place does not emit changedata because the reference has not changed. You must re-set the key with a new reference to trigger the event.

Registry Listeners Persist Across Scene Restarts

The registry lives on the Game object. Listeners added to this.registry.events are NOT cleaned up when a scene restarts. Always remove them on SHUTDOWN:

create() {
    const handler = (game, value) => { this.updateHUD(value); };
    this.registry.events.on('changedata-score', handler);
    this.events.once('shutdown', () => {
        this.registry.events.off('changedata-score', handler);
    });
}

Frozen DataManagers Fail Silently

When freeze is true, all write operations (set, remove, inc, toggle, pop, merge) silently do nothing. No error is thrown and no event is emitted. This can be confusing if you forget you froze the data.

Scene Data Plugin Shutdown vs Destroy

The DataManagerPlugin removes its shutdown listener on shutdown but does NOT clear data on shutdown. Data persists if the scene restarts. It only fully resets on scene destroy. If you need a clean slate on restart, manually reset in a shutdown listener:

this.events.once('shutdown', () => {
    this.data.reset();
});

inc() on Non-Numeric Values

inc() uses the + operator internally. On strings it concatenates rather than adds numerically. On booleans, they coerce to 0 or 1 before incrementing. Only use inc() on keys you know hold numbers.

reset() Emits No Events

Calling reset() clears all data silently -- no removedata events fire for the deleted keys. If you need removal events for each key, iterate and call remove() individually instead.

Freezing Can Interrupt Batch Operations

setFreeze(true) takes effect immediately. If you freeze mid-way through a series of set() calls, subsequent calls in the batch silently no-op. Always freeze only after all writes are complete.

getAll() Returns a Snapshot

getAll() returns a new plain object each time. It is a shallow copy -- primitive values are independent, but object/array values still share references with the DataManager's internal storage.

First Argument in changedata-key Callbacks

For the generic changedata event, the callback receives (parent, key, value, previousValue). For the key-specific changedata-{key} event, the key argument is omitted: (parent, value, previousValue). This difference is easy to miss.

Source File Map