Cookies refer to one of two things. The less common definition refers to a one- or two-line quotation in the operating system Unix, where it can be added automatically to outgoing emails.
The more common definition refers to the use of cookies in the world wide web, where cookies are small text files that a server creates and stores in a user’s hard-drive.
Technipages Explains Cookie
The small text files commonly referred to as cookies enable web pages to pass information to other pages. This can in effect help bridge shortcomings of the HTTP web protocol. Applications such as shopping baskets on online shopping sites require the use of cookies in order to work.
Cookies aren’t always beneficial to the user though – social media sites can use them in order to track the movement of users, and ad agencies similarly use them in order to compile info on users browsing habits.
They can be used in ways that raise privacy concerns with advocates – they can be disabled, deleted or cleared via the user’s browser when they want to. Deleting them can impact the usage of certain sites. A shopping site that isn’t allowed to store and keep cookies won’t be able to display whatever items a user put into the shopping cart as they move across the site.
Cookies are also used for authentication – they keep info on whether or not a user is logged in with valid credentials.
Common Uses of Cookie
- Cookies store info such as login credentials during a session.
- Disabling the use of cookies can impact the functionality of some sites.
- Cookies are useful for ad agencies as they can compile data on a user’s online behaviour.
Common Misuses of Cookie
- Cookies are part of the Internet Protocol HTTP.
