I am writing automated tests around a chrome extension using a Selenium browser (ruby/watir). I would like to test certain variables used by the chrome extension, but am not sure the best way to access these. This solution involves editing the DOM from the chrome extension which would allow the browser to have access to the data, but I would like to find a solution that does not involve editing the DOM since this is a UI test. After brief research I could not find any other storage that was shared between extensions and the browser.

Is there a way to share data between a chrome extension and browser that does not involve modifying the DOM?