What are cookies?
A cookie is a text file stored in a user’s web browser on whatever device they use to access a website that contains information about the user’s visit, such as preferences. When the user returns, the browser provides the cookie with the information stored for the site.

What are cookies used for?
Cookies are used to adjust the content of a website to suit user preferences and to optimize the website. They store useful information that improves the user experience of a website. They are typically used for:

Storing login information so a user doesn’t need to re-login on each visit.
From recognizing the type of device a user browses with any preferences and applied to optimizing the site specifically for the device.
Creation of statistics that help website owners to understand how their users interact with their website, allowing them to improve its structure and content.

What types of cookies are used?
There are two types of cookies: persistent cookies and session cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your hard drive for a period of time specified in the cookie file parameters or until manually removed. When you return to a website and it requires you to log in again despite previously storing your login information, it is usually because the persistent cookie has expired; which helps increase security while maintaining accessibility.

Session cookies, on the other hand, are used temporarily and expire once the website or browser is closed. They are used to monitor user activity on a website during a single visit. When a website requires you to verify your age or location once per visit before allowing you to view content and without requiring additional personal details, that is a session cookie at work.

Do cookies include personal data?
If there is a need for the collection of personal information, such as for account creation, then the cookie may store personal information. However, it is required by data protection law that users are informed about the collection of personal data. This data will also be encrypted to make it inaccessible by unauthorized users.

Dealing with cookies
By default, browsers are set to accept cookies. However, these settings can be changed to block cookies entirely, or to inform the user each time they are used. Detailed information about cookies and the options associated with them are available in each browser’s settings.