# GetString

> Returns the value corresponding to key in the preference file if it exists.

## Definition

* **Type:** Method
* **Namespace:** [UnityEditor](/engine/6000.6/script-reference/unityeditor.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEditor.CoreModule

## GetString(string, string)

Returns the value corresponding to `key` in the preference file if it exists.

```csharp
public static string GetString(string key, string defaultValue)
```

### Parameters

**** (\[string]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string)): **** (\[string]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string)): 

### Returns

| Type                                                           | Description |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| [string](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string) |             |

### Remarks

If the value doesn't exist, it will return `defaultValue`. Note that EditorPrefs does not support null strings, so if `defaultValue` is null, an empty string is returned.

![QuickNotes (GetString)](/api/media?file=/engine/6000.6/media/images/QuickNotes.png)

*Quick notes that last between Unity Sessions.*

### Examples

```csharp
// Simple Editor Script that lets you create / save quick notes
// Between Unity Sessions.

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEditor;

public class ExampleClass : EditorWindow
{
    string note = "Notes:\n->\n->";

    [MenuItem("Examples/QuickNotes")]
    static void Init()
    {
        ExampleClass window = (ExampleClass)EditorWindow.GetWindow(typeof(ExampleClass));
        window.Show();
    }

    void OnGUI()
    {
        note = EditorGUILayout.TextArea(note,
            GUILayout.Width(position.width - 5),
            GUILayout.Height(position.height - 30));
        EditorGUILayout.BeginHorizontal();
        if (GUILayout.Button("Reset"))
            note = "";
        if (GUILayout.Button("Clear Story", GUILayout.Width(72)))
        {
            note = "Notes:\n->\n->";
        }
        EditorGUILayout.EndHorizontal();
    }

    void OnFocus()
    {
        if (EditorPrefs.HasKey("QuickNotes"))
            note = EditorPrefs.GetString("QuickNotes");
    }

    void OnLostFocus()
    {
        EditorPrefs.SetString("QuickNotes", note);
    }

    void OnDestroy()
    {
        EditorPrefs.SetString("QuickNotes", note);
    }
}
```

## GetString(string)

Returns the value corresponding to `key` in the preference file if it exists.

```csharp
public static string GetString(string key)
```

### Parameters

**** (\[string]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string)): 

### Returns

| Type                                                           | Description |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| [string](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string) |             |

### Remarks

If the value doesn't exist, it will return `defaultValue`. Note that EditorPrefs does not support null strings, so if `defaultValue` is null, an empty string is returned.

![QuickNotes (GetString)](/api/media?file=/engine/6000.6/media/images/QuickNotes.png)

*Quick notes that last between Unity Sessions.*

### Examples

```csharp
// Simple Editor Script that lets you create / save quick notes
// Between Unity Sessions.

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEditor;

public class ExampleClass : EditorWindow
{
    string note = "Notes:\n->\n->";

    [MenuItem("Examples/QuickNotes")]
    static void Init()
    {
        ExampleClass window = (ExampleClass)EditorWindow.GetWindow(typeof(ExampleClass));
        window.Show();
    }

    void OnGUI()
    {
        note = EditorGUILayout.TextArea(note,
            GUILayout.Width(position.width - 5),
            GUILayout.Height(position.height - 30));
        EditorGUILayout.BeginHorizontal();
        if (GUILayout.Button("Reset"))
            note = "";
        if (GUILayout.Button("Clear Story", GUILayout.Width(72)))
        {
            note = "Notes:\n->\n->";
        }
        EditorGUILayout.EndHorizontal();
    }

    void OnFocus()
    {
        if (EditorPrefs.HasKey("QuickNotes"))
            note = EditorPrefs.GetString("QuickNotes");
    }

    void OnLostFocus()
    {
        EditorPrefs.SetString("QuickNotes", note);
    }

    void OnDestroy()
    {
        EditorPrefs.SetString("QuickNotes", note);
    }
}
```