Embodiments of the invention disclose a data storage method and apparatus. The method comprises the steps of creating at least two levels of link tables for to-be-stored data, wherein the to-be-stored data is stored in the underlying link table; deleting the underlying link table when the stored data contained in the underlying link table are all the same; and updating a state of the underlying link table in the previous level of the link table. On one hand, the underlying link table containing the same stored data is deleted, so that the occupation of a memory space is reduced; and on the other hand, when the data volume is very large and a plurality of underlying link tables are created, if the data is changed, only the underlying link table corresponding to the data and the state of the underlying link table in the previous level of the link table need to be modified and all the link tables do not need to be decompressed, modified and compressed, so that the executive efficiency is improved.