> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-development/caches-and-memory/persistence.md).

# Persistence

Configure how GridGain persists cache data to external stores — third-party databases and custom cache store implementations.

Beyond GridGain's native persistence, you can back a cache with an external store — a third-party database such as an RDBMS — or implement your own cache store. This section covers those options. For the concept of GridGain's built-in native persistence, see [Storage](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/architecture/storage.md).

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[External Storage](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-development/caches-and-memory/persistence/external-storage.md)
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Using GridGain as a caching layer on top of an external database, including read-through/write-through, write-behind caching, and RDBMS and NoSQL integration.
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[Implementing Custom Cache Store](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-8/gridgain8-development/caches-and-memory/persistence/custom-cache-store.md)
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Implementing a custom CacheStore in GridGain to use an external data store as the underlying storage for a cache, with a JDBC example.
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