Web Cookie

Cookie, web cookie, browser cookie, HTTP cookie all are used inter-changeably.

We talk daily about Internet and the whole world is engaged round the clock surfing on the web. I would like to discuss very sommon term that would really help to improve performance of web sufers, Internet users and at the same it will speed up your search activity and provide secure access.

So, let me talk about Cookies. What are COOKIES, where are cookies stored and nature and type of cookies.

Cookies are very small text files stored on user's computer by thier web browser. A website put cookie on user's computer, these small text files store informataion about your search preferences, and lot more. Cookies are not executable and so they cannot replicate. So, how the small text is going to act big?? Modern browsers offer users choice if they want to accept cookies or not, and the time frame to keep these cookies.

What are cookies used for?? Cookie may be used for authentication of trusted websites, storing site preferences (personalization), shopping cart contents (item value store), the identifier for a server-based session (website analytics), or anything else that can be accomplished through storing text data.

Where are Cookies stored??? Cookies are stored is in a folder named Cookies which is stored inside the Documents and Settings folder. By default, the path is C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Cookies. These cookies can be deleted manually by users for privacy issues or to save space. Cookies may be set by the server with or without an expiration date.

Cookies are encrypted for information privacy and data security, and bits of info are stored as name-value pair. The cookie is sent as a field in the header of the HTTP response by a web server to a web browser and then sent back unchanged by the browser each time it accesses that server.

How to you personalize your web search??? Websites that use cookies on your computer provide user a personalized experience by gathering information about website use.

Temporary Cookies/ Session Cookies are cookies that are removed from your computer after you close the browser or even if you have not visited the website for certain period called session idle timeout, these cookies enhance user experience, especially when you are doing online shopping saves your shopping cart items but once you close the browser it gets deleted.

Persistent Cookies or saved cookies remian on your computer even after you close the browser. These cookies are used to save website's sign-in, password info so that next time when you login you donot need to remember it or sign in. These cookies may remain on your computer for days, months, or even years.

First-party Cookies come from the website or its sub-domain in your computer's browsers address bar that you're viewing and can be either persistent or temporary. Websites might use these cookies to store information that they'll reuse the next time you go to that site.

Third Party Cookies come from other websites' advertisements (such as pop-up or banner ads) on the website that you're viewing. Websites might use these cookies to track your web use for marketing purposes.

Secure cookie is only used when a browser is visiting a server via HTTPS, that will make sure that cookie is always encrypted when transmitting from client to server, and therefore less likely to be exposed to cookie theft via eavesdropping.

Other cookies are: HttpOnly cookie, Super cookie, Zombie cookie.

To learn more about HTTP cookie visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie