What are Cookie in Web Browsers ?

Introduction

Cookies in a web browser is a small packet of data that is stored locally on the computer through which the internet is being accessed. Cookies can be used for a different purposes.

History

The cookie term is derived from the term magic cookie. When cookies were invented, the original motive was to not store the data related to shopping carts on the server.

Uses of Cookies

Cookies can be used for variety of purposes but the three main uses of cookies are as follows :

1. Session Management : Cookies is used for session management. Session management here mainly refers to the checking if the user is logged in or not. Session cookies are no

2. Personalization: Cookies are also used for personalization of the website. Like remembering the language preference. 

If a user has visited a website name example.com and set the preferred language as Hindi. Then it is possible that the website may remember the preferred language of the user using a cookie. In this way cookies can help to personalize the website for a user.

3. Tracking : Cookies is also used for tracking a user. Tracking cookies are mostly used in ads that are placed on a particular website. These cookies help the advertiser to track user for his behavior on the web. 

The advertisers can collect the information like, which website the user is visiting, for how much time and when etc.

Types of Cookies

Session Cookies

Session Cookies are the type of cookies that last for a single session. When the session of the website ends the cookies is immediately deleted from the user web browser.

Persistent Cookies

Persistent Cookies are the cookies that can last for a specified period of time on the web browser of the user. The cookies are issued from the webserver with a expiration date. When the expiration date is reached the cookie is automatically deleted from the user web browser.

First-Party Cookies

First-Party Cookies are the cookies that are created by the webserver from a particular domain and can only be used by that domain. These cookies are not shared by any other domain and cannot be accessed.

This cookies are specifically used for improving the user experience. 

Third-Party Cookies

Third-Party Cookies are created by a single domain and used by multiple domains. Third-Party cookies are used by advertisers on the web. 

Structure of Cookies