What is Cookies In Website ?

Website Development

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit them. They are used for a variety of purposes, including:

1.  Session Management : Cookies help websites remember your actions and preferences (such as login information, language, font size, and other display preferences) over a period of time, so you don’t have to keep re-entering them whenever you come back to the site or browse from one page to another.

2.  Personalization : Cookies allow websites to tailor their content and services to your preferences. For example, an e-commerce site might use cookies to remember your shopping cart or recommend products based on your previous searches and purchases.

3. Tracking and Analytics : Cookies help website owners understand how visitors interact with their sites. This can include tracking the number of visitors, the pages they visit, how long they stay, and the path they take through the site. This data is useful for improving the website’s functionality and user experience.

4.  Advertising : Cookies are often used in online advertising to track users across different websites. This helps advertisers deliver more relevant ads to users based on their browsing history and behavior.

There are different types of cookies:

 Session Cookies : These are temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. They are used to remember your activities during a single browsing session.

 Persistent Cookies : These cookies remain on your device even after you close your browser. They have a set expiration date and are used to remember your preferences and actions across multiple browsing sessions.

 First-Party Cookies : These cookies are set by the website you are visiting. They can only be read by that site.

 Third-Party Cookies : These are set by domains other than the one you are visiting, often used by advertising networks to track users across multiple sites.

Due to privacy concerns, many modern browsers and regulations (like the GDPR in Europe) require websites to get explicit consent from users before placing cookies on their devices.