In the computer world, what are 'cookies'?

Question

I did ask this a few days ago and didn't get one reply.

Id really appreciate som eone letting me in on this term!

Answer 1

I think when u go on a website, its something the site downloads onto your computer, for the website to run certain files.

Some cookies can be dangerous, but some can be harmless

Answer 2

Small files, usually just a line of txt, left on your computer when you visit a web site. Basically it is the code that lets a site recognise if you have been there before.

Answer 3

A short line of text that a web site puts on your computer's hard drive when you access the web site.

Answer 4

Those biscuits which are always present by the monitor for consumption in tense moments...

(sorry couldn't resist it!)

Concerning your additional note - "I thought they were dangerous!" - they can be intrusive (but not realy dangerous) in certain circumstances:

"Tracking cookies are small files that web sites use to track where you go on the internet. They're generally harmless, but you should still probably rid yourself of them regularly if you're concerned about the privacy issue.

If you're using Internet Explorer, you can set your cookie preferences under Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy (tab)" (1)

"Tracking cookies track your web browsing habits. They can collect information about pages and advertisements you have seen or any other activity during browsing." (2)

Answer 5

When you visit a webite you get there faster when you re-visit it, with the aid of your cookies.

Answer 6

HTTP cookies, or more commonly referred to as Web cookies, tracking cookies or just cookies, are parcels of text sent by a server to a web client (usually a browser) and then sent back unchanged by the client each time it accesses that server. HTTP cookies are used for authenticating, session tracking (state maintenance), and maintaining specific information about users, such as site preferences or the contents of their electronic shopping carts. The term "cookie" is derived from "magic cookie," a well-known concept in UNIX computing which inspired both the idea and the name of HTTP cookies.

Cookies have been of concern for Internet privacy, since they can be used for tracking browsing behavior. As a result, they have been subject to legislation in various countries such as the United States, as well as the European Union. Cookies have also been criticized because the identification of users they provide is not always accurate and because they could potentially be a target of network attackers. Some alternatives to cookies exist, but each has its own uses, advantages, and drawbacks.

Cookies are also subject to a number of misconceptions, mostly based on the erroneous notion that they are computer programs. In fact, cookies are simple pieces of data unable to perform any operation by themselves. In particular, they are neither spyware nor viruses, despite the detection of cookies from certain sites by many anti-spyware products.

Most modern browsers allow users to decide whether to accept cookies, but rejection makes some websites unusable. For example, shopping carts implemented using cookies do not work if cookies are rejected

Answer 7

A "cookie" is a small piece of information sent by a web server to store on a web browser so it can later be read back from that browser. This is useful for having the browser remember some specific information. cookies are temporary information.

example:

when logging into myspace it writes cookies saying you are online. if it didnt you would need to keep logging in. once you click log out this cookie is expired. do you understand better?

just small information used for web.

Answer 8

this simplest way i can describe it is like little chips of information from the websites you access, so that the next time you visit your computer remembers you've been there.

Answer 9

Er, they're little text files stored in your computer, from websites, when you log in. They're for authenticating sessions.

They keep you logged in, basically.

If you clear your cookies, you'd be logged out of all your online accounts that you've chosen to stay logged onto.

Wiki link included for a more comprehensive definition.