Reusable component data persistence using markup languages may be provided. A file including data associated with a reusable software component may be opened. Next, it may be determined if the file includes a persistence element comprising a dataset. The dataset may contain the data associated with the reusable software component. The data associated with the reusable software component may be described in the markup language and may reference a sub-element in a binary format. In addition, if the file includes the persistence element comprising the dataset, saving the data associated with the reusable software component to the dataset may be performed or loading the data associated with the reusable software component from the dataset may be performed.