# Persistence
# Introduction
Persistence blocks enable access to and manipulation of historical data stored by the default persistence service. For more information on persistence, the default service, and its configuration see the persistence documentation (opens new window).
The date-blocks shown in this section are described previously in Date handling blocks (opens new window).
# Overview of the Persistence blocks
# Persistence Blocks
Persistence blocks enable access of historical data stored by the default persistence service. For more information on persistence, the default service, and its configuration see the persistence documentation (opens new window).
The date-blocks shown in this section are described previously in Date handling blocks (opens new window).
More about that topic can be viewed at 
Using Persistence data (opens new window)
# Get statistical value of an item
Function: computes any of the below functions for the given item since the time provided by ZonedDateTime-Block
- average: gets the average value of the State of a persisted Item since a certain point in time. This method uses a time-weighted average calculation
- delta: gets the difference in value of the State of a given Item since a certain point in time
- deviation: gets the standard deviation of the state of the given Item since a certain point in time
- variance: gets the variance of the state of the given item since a certain point in time
- evolution rate: gets the evolution rate of the state of the given Item in percent since a certain point in time (may be positive or negative)
- minimum: gets the minimum value of the State of the given Item since a certain point in time
- maximum: gets the maximum value of the State of the given Item since a certain point in time
- sum: gets the sum of the State of the given Item since a certain point in time
- historic state: gets the historic state at a certain point in time
In the case of the following two functions the block changes its appearance by replacing the time with an option to chose if the equal value should be skipped or not:
- previous state value: Gets the previous state with option to skip to different value as current
- previous state numeric value: same as above but directly returns a number without a unit
- previous state value time: Gets the time when previous state last occurred with option to skip to different value as current
The persistence dropdown allows to select the persistence storage from which the value should be retrieved. It automatically shows only the storage types that are currently installed on your openHAB instance.
Note that not all persistence storage types (i.e. the default rrd4j) support all statistical methods.
The skip option set to true allows to search for first state that is different from the current state.
Important: This option is not supported by all persistence databases and may throw an error in that case (for example the standard rrd4j does not support it while influxdb does support it).
Notes: in case no or 0 values are retrieved, make sure that the item in question is actually persisted.
Previous State Example
# Check item change / update since a point in time
Function: checks if an item was updated or changed since a certain point in time
Type: boolean true or false
# Provide last updated date of an Item
Function: Provides the last updated date (including time) of an Item Type: ZonedDateTime