HTTP cookies are small text files that are sent between a web server and a web browser during a user’s visit to a website. They are used to store user-specific data, including login information, shopping cart items, or user preferences.
When a user visits a website, the web server sends a small piece of data or a cookie to the user’s browser. The browser stores this data on the user’s computer or device, and sends it back to the server on subsequent visits to that website.
The server uses the data stored in the cookie to personalize the user’s experience, such as displaying customized content or remembering login credentials. Cookies can also be used to track user behavior, such as which pages they visit or how much time they spend on a website.
There are two main types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are temporary and are deleted when the user closes their web browser. Persistent cookies, on the other hand, remain on the user’s device even after they close their browser and are typically used to track user behavior over a longer period of time.
While cookies can be convenient for improving a user’s web browsing experience, they can also raise privacy concerns. Users can choose to block or delete cookies, and many browsers offer settings to control how cookies are used.
