Cookies

Cookies, often referred to as "biscuits", are an integral part of today's internet world. These seemingly small text files play a much larger role than one might initially think. Over the past few decades, cookies have become a key tool in the world of UX (User Experience), e-commerce, marketing, and the broadly understood realms of business and IT. Their importance continues to grow, influencing how we use the internet, adapting online content to our individual preferences, and affecting the effectiveness of marketing actions. It's worthwhile to understand how cookies work, their applications, and the challenges and privacy concerns associated with this technology.

Cookies are not only technological components but also the foundation for many services and features that make our internet usage easier. In this article, we will take a closer look at cookies, presenting their essence, how they function, and the wide spectrum of their applications. You will learn why cookies are a key component of our daily internet interaction and what challenges and benefits come with their usage. Let's discover the fascinating world of cookies and reflect on their impact on our digital reality.

Cookies as small text files

Cookies, also called "biscuits", are small text files that a web browser saves on the user's device when visiting websites. Although they may seem trivial, they play a crucial role in today's internet ecosystem. The main purpose of cookies is to store information about user actions on websites, allowing for later adaptation of content and services to their preferences and needs.

How do cookies work on websites?

The cookie mechanism is relatively simple. When a user visits a website, the server of that site sends a small cookie file to the user's browser. The browser saves this file on the user's device, typically in a folder designated for cookie files. As you browse different pages, cookies gather information about user actions, such as visited pages, language preferences, shopping cart information, or login history.

A key feature of cookies is the ability to send this information back to the server on subsequent user visits to a particular website. This allows the server to recognize the user and tailor the site content or services to their previous interactions. For example, if a user visited an online store and added products to the cart, cookies will retain this information. The next time the user visits the site, they will see the products they previously selected in the cart, even if they closed the browser and returned to the site at a later time.

Types of cookies

It's important to understand the difference between two basic types of cookies: session and persistent.

- Session cookies. These are temporary files that exist only for the duration of a browsing session. They are automatically deleted when the browser is closed. Session cookies are often used to store information about the user's current session, such as login data or the contents of a shopping cart in an online store.

- Persistent cookies. Also called "persistent cookies", these files remain on the user's device even after closing the browser. They have a set expiration date, which can be a few days, months, or even years. Persistent cookies are used to store data that should be available on subsequent visits to a site, such as user preferences or login information.

Security and privacy in the context of cookies

Although cookies are extremely useful, there are also serious concerns related to user security and privacy. Since cookies collect online behavior information, they can be used to track users without their consent, raising privacy concerns.

In response to these concerns, many web browsers are introducing increasingly advanced control mechanisms over cookies. Users can manage cookie files, block or delete them, giving them greater control over which websites can gather information about their activity. Companies are also obligated to comply with data protection regulations and inform users about the use of cookies on their pages.

Cookies are not only a tool but also shape our interaction with the Internet. In the next part of this article, we will look at specific cookie applications that influence our daily online activity. We will also analyze the challenges and benefits resulting from this technology and its growing importance in today's world of e-commerce, marketing, business, and IT.