While everyone savors the delight of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, the digital equivalent—computer cookies—can offer an equally captivating experience for website visitors.Integrating computer cookies into your online presence can significantly enhance the user experience for your visitors. But what exactly are these cookies, and how do they function? This article delves into these questions and more, so keep reading to uncover the secrets of computer cookies!For additional insights into website security and best practices, subscribe to our newsletter, Revenue Weekly!Computer cookies are small snippets of code designed to enable websites to retain information about user activity.Also known as web cookies, Internet cookies, browser cookies, or formally as HTTP cookies, these digital bits are crucial for website functionality.Instead of storing vast amounts of user data on their servers, websites dispatch bits of code to be stored directly on the user’s browser.Upon each visit to a new website, unique identifiers (usually a numeric ID) are sent to the browser via computer cookies, which are then stored in the browser’s settings under a “Cookies” section. Websites often alert users to their use of cookies, and users can opt out if desired. When a user requests a new page, the cookies are returned to the website’s server, aiding in the retention of user preferences and behaviors, such as button clicks or visited pages.Moreover, cookies can streamline form field entries by recalling previously entered information, such as names, addresses, passwords, and payment details. The advantage of storing cookies on the user’s browser over the website’s server is that it reduces the data load on the server, leading to faster performance.Computer cookies serve multiple functions:Primarily, they facilitate the tracking of browsing data, which websites utilize for various purposes:
Streamlined account access: HTTP cookies enable browsers to remember login credentials for sites, eliminating the need for repetitive logins on platforms like social media or email accounts.
Shopping cart retention: HTTP cookies help browsers remember items in shopping carts on e-commerce sites, ensuring that cart contents are preserved even if the user navigates away from the site.
Visitor counting: Each cookie placed by a website carries a unique ID, allowing for the accurate tracking of unique visitors to the site, even with multiple visits.
Relevant content and ad delivery: The online advertising industry leverages website cookies to serve targeted ads to internet users, tracking their browsing behavior and presenting relevant advertisements.
Cookies are categorized into three main types based on the activities they track:Persistent CookiesAlso known as authentication cookies, persistent cookies have an expiration date and can track and store data over an extended period, from days to years after the initial visit.They continuously send information to the website during their active duration, tracking user activity and storing usernames and passwords for continued login sessions. Persistent cookies also help websites determine if it’s safe to send pages containing sensitive information.While they can raise privacy concerns, encrypting data and cookies can enhance security.Session CookiesAlso referred to as transient cookies, session cookies are temporary and are deleted when the user closes their web browser, typically after an internet session ends.Session cookies track visitors only during active interactions with a site, often used to monitor items placed in shopping carts.These cookies lack an expiration date and are deleted once the session concludes.Third-party CookiesThird-party cookies, also known as tracking cookies, monitor browsing behavior across different websites, primarily for advertising purposes.Identifiable by their domain names, third-party cookies allow for targeted advertisements to be displayed on various sites based on the user’s browsing history.Most web browsers allow users to block third-party cookies, with some browsers, such as Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox, blocking them entirely. Google has also announced plans to phase out third-party cookies.In Chrome, managing cookies involves navigating to the Privacy and Security settings:
Open Chrome
Click the three dots in the top right corner
Select Settings from the dropdown menu
Expand Advanced Settings in the left menu
Select Privacy and Security
Clearing Browsing DataWithin the Privacy and Security settings, users can clear browsing data, including history, cache, and cookies:
Select Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the Privacy and Security section
Select the data types to delete, such as cookies, history, or cache
Choose a time period for deletion
Access the advanced tab for additional options
Editing Cookie PermissionsUsers can also manage cookie permissions:
Select Site Settings from the Privacy and Security section
Select Cookies and Site Data
Choose options to block third-party cookies, clear cookies on exit, or delete individual cookies
Deleting cookies will erase browsing history, including login information, resulting in being logged out of sites.Overall, cookies significantly improve user experience by eliminating the need for repetitive logins, maintaining shopping cart contents, and delivering relevant ads. They are not harmful to computers, but their misuse can lead to privacy breaches. Ensuring browsers, servers, and websites have robust security measures, such as VPNs and HTTPS protocols, is crucial for protecting user information.WebFX is here to assist you in understanding the intricacies of computer cookies. As a comprehensive web design and digital marketing agency, we’ll guide you on how to encrypt your site for optimal visitor experience. Get in touch online or call us at 888-601-5359 to learn more about our comprehensive website security analysis services!
