Jedi holocrons were used by the Jedi Order to store information and various teachings. These artifacts were constructed with a security feature that prevented non-Force-sensitive individuals from accessing their contents. The teachings stored in a holocron were typically revealed through an interactive hologram of the Jedi Master who recorded them. It was generally discouraged to share the knowledge found on Jedi holocrons with non-Jedi, as most holocrons held information about the Force. Holocrons were kept in the Holocron Vault, located in the Jedi Archives of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and only accessible to Jedi ​members of the High Council.

To access the information stored in many holocrons, one needed a specific type of crystal, called a memory crystal. A prime example is the Kyber memory crystal, which was in the possession of Rodian Jedi Master Bolla Ropal during the Clone Wars. This particular memory crystal held a list of all known Force-sensitive younglings.​

Later during the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Depa Billaba possessed a holocron that she passed on to her apprentice, Caleb Dume, after the conclusion of the Conquest of Kaller, and shortly before her death during the Great Jedi Purge, which was triggered by Darth Sidious through Order 66. The holocron was used by Caleb, Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano until 2 BBY, when it was destroyed while being combined with a Sith holocron. It had recordings of Anakin teaching younglings how to deflect blaster bolts with a lightsaber and Obi Wan's message about the fall of the republic

Grakkus the Hutt, a notorious crime lord, amassed a collection of Jedi artifacts, including holocrons, after the Great Jedi Purge. He kept these items in his palace located on the planet Nar Shaddaa.