A cookie is a little text file composed of alphanumeric characters, which is created on your computer when your browser accesses a website that uses cookies. The files are used to help your browser navigate the website and fully use all its features like logins, preferences, language settings, themes, among other common features. The cookie is used solely to help your browser process a website, it doesn’t collect any information from your computer or snoop on your files.
Cookie files are typically stored in the cookie file of your browser. Each file normally contains:
- The name of the website server that created the cookie
- The duration of the cookie-how long your browser can use the cookie information to access the website that created the cookie
- A cookie value-this unique information is normally a randomly generated number
The server that created the cookie uses the cookie value to remember you when you come back to the site or navigate from one page to another. Only the server that created the cookie can read and process the cookie.
