# Key-value store

Source URL: https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/key-value-store
Updated: 2026-05-26T17:14:04.000Z
Letter: K

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A key-value store in Bitcoin is a simple and efficient type of database used to store and retrieve data by using unique keys to access the stored values. 

It stores data as a collection of key-value pairs: a key, which is a unique identifier, and a value, which is the data associated with that key. Each key is unique and maps to a specific value, allowing for the efficient retrieval, quick access, and management of data.

Some examples include:

`wallet.dat`: This file contains wallet-related details like private keys and addresses, public keys, and key metadata (labels, HD seed and derivation paths) and uses a key-value store internally.

LevelDB: Bitcoin Core uses the LevelDB key-value storage engine as a high-performance storage library, ensuring that data retrieval and management operations are optimized for the needs of the network.

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