What are cookies and what is their function?
Cookies are textual data files stored on a user’s computer by a website the user visits.
An internet browser has the option to use cookies and if their use is enabled in their settings, the server will save the cookie on the user’s computer and use it when the website is opened again.
Cookies allow a website to find out the user’s desired settings and enable fast and efficient site navigation thanks to memorizing the user’s choices, options and favourite settings.
More than 90% of all websites use cookies, but under European Union regulations a message must be displayed on cookie use.
A website can be visited even if cookies are disabled, but certain options will be disabled.
What kind of data do cookies store?
Cookies usually store data such as selected site language and address. Whenever the site is opened again, the internet browser sends cookies belonging to that site and enables it to display information adjusted to the user’s needs.
Cookies may also store personal information (such as user name or email), but it can only be stored if the user allows that.
Cookies cannot access information that is not provided to them, which includes content of the user’s computer (such as data files, photos, documents, etc.). The purpose of cookies is well meaning; they are not harmful and cannot carry viruses and they are meant to provide a better surfing experience.
How can cookies be disabled?
The activities of storing and sending cookies are not visible, but settings on the user’s browser may be changed anyway to allow users to choose on their own if they wish to allow or reject requests for storing cookies, to delete stored cookies automatically when the browser is closed, etc.
Cookie settings are edited in the web browser and disabling them will not allow some functions of the website to be used.
What types of cookies are there?
There are session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are removed from the user’s computer when the browser is closed and persistent cookies remain stored on the computer after closing the browser.
There are also first party and third party cookies. First party cookies are the already described (session cookies and persistent cookies), while third party cookies come from other partner sites on the web that you watch (Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and are located on the website the user visits. Websites use them to follow the user’s use of the Internet for marketing purposes.