Overview
A website cookie, also known as a web cookie, Internet cookie, or simply a cookie, is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored on your computer by the a web browser while you are browsing. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember stateful information (such as items added in the shopping cart in an online store) or to record a user's browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past). They can also be used to remember arbitrary pieces of information that you previously entered into form fields, such as names, addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers.
Types of Cookies
- Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that expire and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. They are used to remember your activities on a website during a single browsing session.
- Persistent Cookies: Also known as permanent or stored cookies, these cookies are stored on your hard drive until they expire (persistent cookies are set with expiration dates) or until you delete them. They are used to collect identifying information about the user, such as web surfing behavior or user preferences for a specific website.
Function of Cookies
Functions of Cookies:
- Authentication: Cookies allow users to log into websites by verifying that the user is logged in as they navigate through the site. Without cookies, your login status could be lost as you move around the site.
- Preferences: They store user preferences, such as language, layout, and themes, making the user experience smoother and more personalized.
- Tracking: Cookies can track users as they navigate between different websites, which can be used for targeted advertising or analytics.
- Shopping Carts: For e-commerce websites, cookies can keep track of the items you've added to your shopping cart as you continue to shop.
Privacy Concerns
While cookies are essential for a seamless web experience, they can also raise privacy concerns, as they can be used to track a user's browsing behavior across the web. This is why many modern browsers offer settings to manage cookies and why websites in many regions are required to inform users about cookie usage and obtain consent.
Clearing cookies can log you out of websites and reset your browsing preferences, but it is also a common step for protecting personal privacy.