8.5.4 User-Specific Temporary Storage

To store a page item's value as a user preference that spans multiple sessions, set its Session State > Storage property to Per User (Persistent).

This is useful for query-by-example page item values or other options you want to remain exactly as the user left them the next time they visit your application. While the APEX_UTIL package has the SET_PREFERENCE procedure and the GET_PREFERENCE function, setting a page item's storage to Per User (Persistent) is an even simpler way to enable a user preference.