Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer’s browser directory or program data subfolders. They allow the website to recognize that particular browser or device.
When you visit a website that uses cookies, a cookie file is saved to your PC, Mac, phone or tablet. It stores the website’s name and also a unique ID that represents you as a user.
There are two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are created temporarily in your browser’s subfolder while you are visiting a website. Once you leave the site, the session cookie is deleted. On the other hand, persistent cookie files remain in your browser’s subfolder and are activated again once you visit the website that created that particular cookie. A persistent cookie remains in the browser’s subfolder for the duration period set within the cookie’s file.
When choosing a privacy setting in your browser, two terms you will see are “first-party cookies” and “third-party cookies”. First party cookies are those cookies that originate from (or be sent to) the website you’re currently viewing. These types of cookies usually will contain information about your preferences for that particular website. These cookies are usually.
A third-party cookie belongs to a domain different from the one shown in the address bar.This sort of cookie typically appears when web pages feature content from external websites, such as banner advertisements. This opens up the potential for tracking the user’s browsing history and is often used by advertisers in an effort to serve relevant advertisements to each user.
Most web browsers contain privacy settings that can block third-party cookies.
Most web browsers support cookies and allow the user to disable them.
Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.allaboutcookies.org