diff --git a/src/core/common/settings.cpp b/src/core/common/settings.cpp
index 06f672ba7..c69b32261 100644
--- a/src/core/common/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/core/common/settings.cpp
@@ -210,9 +210,14 @@ void Settings::Wipe(void)
     LogInfo("Wiped all info");
 }
 
-Error Settings::SaveOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive, const MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset)
+Settings::Key Settings::KeyForDatasetType(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType)
 {
-    Key   key   = (aIsActive ? kKeyActiveDataset : kKeyPendingDataset);
+    return (aType == MeshCoP::Dataset::kActive) ? kKeyActiveDataset : kKeyPendingDataset;
+}
+
+Error Settings::SaveOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType, const MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset)
+{
+    Key   key   = KeyForDatasetType(aType);
     Error error = Get<SettingsDriver>().Set(key, aDataset.GetBytes(), aDataset.GetSize());
 
     Log(kActionSave, error, key);
@@ -220,13 +225,12 @@ Error Settings::SaveOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive, const MeshCoP::Dataset &a
     return error;
 }
 
-Error Settings::ReadOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive, MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset) const
+Error Settings::ReadOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType, MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset) const
 {
     Error    error  = kErrorNone;
     uint16_t length = MeshCoP::Dataset::kMaxSize;
 
-    SuccessOrExit(error = Get<SettingsDriver>().Get(aIsActive ? kKeyActiveDataset : kKeyPendingDataset,
-                                                    aDataset.GetBytes(), &length));
+    SuccessOrExit(error = Get<SettingsDriver>().Get(KeyForDatasetType(aType), aDataset.GetBytes(), &length));
     VerifyOrExit(length <= MeshCoP::Dataset::kMaxSize, error = kErrorNotFound);
 
     aDataset.SetSize(length);
@@ -235,9 +239,9 @@ exit:
     return error;
 }
 
-Error Settings::DeleteOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive)
+Error Settings::DeleteOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType)
 {
-    Key   key   = (aIsActive ? kKeyActiveDataset : kKeyPendingDataset);
+    Key   key   = KeyForDatasetType(aType);
     Error error = Get<SettingsDriver>().Delete(key);
 
     Log(kActionDelete, error, key);
diff --git a/src/core/common/settings.hpp b/src/core/common/settings.hpp
index da227f5e8..1758feba2 100644
--- a/src/core/common/settings.hpp
+++ b/src/core/common/settings.hpp
@@ -47,16 +47,13 @@
 #include "common/settings_driver.hpp"
 #include "crypto/ecdsa.hpp"
 #include "mac/mac_types.hpp"
+#include "meshcop/dataset.hpp"
 #include "net/ip6_address.hpp"
 #include "utils/flash.hpp"
 #include "utils/slaac_address.hpp"
 
 namespace ot {
 
-namespace MeshCoP {
-class Dataset;
-}
-
 class Settings;
 
 /**
@@ -799,38 +796,38 @@ public:
     /**
      * This method saves the Operational Dataset (active or pending).
      *
-     * @param[in]   aIsActive   Indicates whether Dataset is active or pending.
+     * @param[in]   aType       The Dataset type (active or pending) to save.
      * @param[in]   aDataset    A reference to a `Dataset` object to be saved.
      *
      * @retval kErrorNone             Successfully saved the Dataset.
      * @retval kErrorNotImplemented   The platform does not implement settings functionality.
      *
      */
-    Error SaveOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive, const MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset);
+    Error SaveOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType, const MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset);
 
     /**
      * This method reads the Operational Dataset (active or pending).
      *
-     * @param[in]   aIsActive             Indicates whether Dataset is active or pending.
-     * @param[out]  aDataset              A reference to a `Dataset` object to output the read content.
+     * @param[in]   aType            The Dataset type (active or pending) to read.
+     * @param[out]  aDataset         A reference to a `Dataset` object to output the read content.
      *
      * @retval kErrorNone             Successfully read the Dataset.
      * @retval kErrorNotFound         No corresponding value in the setting store.
      * @retval kErrorNotImplemented   The platform does not implement settings functionality.
      *
      */
-    Error ReadOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive, MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset) const;
+    Error ReadOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType, MeshCoP::Dataset &aDataset) const;
 
     /**
      * This method deletes the Operational Dataset (active/pending) from settings.
      *
-     * @param[in]   aIsActive            Indicates whether Dataset is active or pending.
+     * @param[in]   aType            The Dataset type (active or pending) to delete.
      *
      * @retval kErrorNone            Successfully deleted the Dataset.
      * @retval kErrorNotImplemented  The platform does not implement settings functionality.
      *
      */
-    Error DeleteOperationalDataset(bool aIsActive);
+    Error DeleteOperationalDataset(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType);
 
     /**
      * This template method reads a specified settings entry.
@@ -1114,6 +1111,8 @@ private:
     };
 #endif
 
+    static Key KeyForDatasetType(MeshCoP::Dataset::Type aType);
+
     Error ReadEntry(Key aKey, void *aValue, uint16_t aMaxLength) const;
     Error SaveEntry(Key aKey, const void *aValue, void *aPrev, uint16_t aLength);
     Error DeleteEntry(Key aKey);
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_local.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_local.cpp
index 4607ca0ab..dfcb07713 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_local.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_local.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void DatasetLocal::Clear(void)
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_KEY_REFERENCES_ENABLE
     DestroySecurelyStoredKeys();
 #endif
-    IgnoreError(Get<Settings>().DeleteOperationalDataset(IsActive()));
+    IgnoreError(Get<Settings>().DeleteOperationalDataset(mType));
     mTimestamp.Clear();
     mTimestampPresent = false;
     mSaved            = false;
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Error DatasetLocal::Read(Dataset &aDataset) const
     uint32_t       elapsed;
     Error          error;
 
-    error = Get<Settings>().ReadOperationalDataset(IsActive(), aDataset);
+    error = Get<Settings>().ReadOperationalDataset(mType, aDataset);
     VerifyOrExit(error == kErrorNone, aDataset.mLength = 0);
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_KEY_REFERENCES_ENABLE
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ Error DatasetLocal::Save(const Dataset &aDataset)
     if (aDataset.GetSize() == 0)
     {
         // do not propagate error back
-        IgnoreError(Get<Settings>().DeleteOperationalDataset(IsActive()));
+        IgnoreError(Get<Settings>().DeleteOperationalDataset(mType));
         mSaved = false;
         LogInfo("%s dataset deleted", Dataset::TypeToString(mType));
     }
@@ -201,9 +201,9 @@ Error DatasetLocal::Save(const Dataset &aDataset)
 
         dataset.Set(GetType(), aDataset);
         MoveKeysToSecureStorage(dataset);
-        SuccessOrExit(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(IsActive(), dataset));
+        SuccessOrExit(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(mType, dataset));
 #else
-        SuccessOrExit(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(IsActive(), aDataset));
+        SuccessOrExit(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(mType, aDataset));
 #endif
 
         mSaved = true;
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ void DatasetLocal::EmplaceSecurelyStoredKeys(Dataset &aDataset) const
 
         dataset.Set(GetType(), aDataset);
         MoveKeysToSecureStorage(dataset);
-        SuccessOrAssert(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(IsActive(), dataset));
+        SuccessOrAssert(error = Get<Settings>().SaveOperationalDataset(mType, dataset));
     }
 }
 #endif