Internet cookies, tiny data files stored on users’ devices, play a crucial role in shaping online experiences. They act as a website’s memory, identifying users and their devices. There are different types of cookies, including session cookies that are temporary and vanish after a browsing session, and persistent cookies that remember login information and preferences. Secure cookies are encrypted for added security, often used for sensitive data. Cookies enable user authentication, personalization, and the persistence of items in online shopping carts, contributing to a more tailored and convenient online experience.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are stored in a user’s computer memory during a browsing session. They are used to remember actions as users navigate a website, such as items in a shopping cart.
- Persistent Cookies: These cookies remain on a user’s device even after a browsing session ends. They remember login information, language preferences, and other user-specific data, enhancing personalization.
- Secure Cookies: Cookies sent over encrypted connections to ensure data security, commonly used for storing sensitive information like login credentials.
- User Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of a user, often facilitated by cookies that allow websites to recognize and keep users logged in during their visit.
- Personalization: Tailoring the online experience to individual preferences and needs, which cookies help achieve by remembering user choices like language preferences and website themes.