What are cookies?

Cookies are short data records or texts that are exchanged between browsers and servers. With the help of cookies, the surfing behaviour of users can be determined. They are used to identify users. Pages store certain information that can be retrieved at a later time. Cookies play an important role in online marketing.

Cookies should help to manage and store

The cookies (“cookies”) primarily ensure a user-friendly Internet by recording the users surfing habits. They are set in the users web browsers so that the server can link all requests together. This makes it possible to assign the respective users and even devices (e.g. desktops, tablets, smartphones). The small text files are created the first time a page is visited on the World Wide Web. The web browser saves them on the respective device. Cookies thus help to collect information that can be captured by the operator. Computers are recognised by means of randomly generated numbers. This makes applications such as banking and online shops possible without any problems, because the site remembers the user – for example, a shopping cart can be retained. A visit to a website can also generate more than just a cookie. Various settings are stored by cookies so that the user does not have to make them again each time he or she visits the website (language and other preferences). Cookies are also interesting for statistical evaluations, for example, the time spent on the website can be measured. Data and search terms once entered are also retained. Operators can thus optimize their offers in the interest of the users. For shop owners and companies, cookies are naturally very interesting with regard to product search and personalisation. Cookies also help to protect search engines from misuse or fraud.

Cookies give the Internet a memory

The “magic biscuits” have been around since 1994, initially computers should be able to use this technology to remember which websites have been visited by users. Cookies are only valid for one domain at a time and provide information about intended and current concerns of Internet users. They collect important information from entries, simplify the use of websites, help with various identifications and make the user a bit more transparent. In this way, not only users or devices, but also habits should be remembered. When visiting websites again, cookies tell the users computer that they have been there before – the user does not have to enter his data again and again. As with all things online, the correct handling of cookies is also important. Basically, the intention behind it is not a bad one, but misuse is unfortunately also possible here. That is why it is essential today to protect your computer systems sufficiently. Nevertheless, cookies have become indispensable today, as they make surfing the Internet much easier and useful data can be stored. The user saves time and effort (such as logging in) because he does not have to enter certain data again and again. Of course, browsers are able to block certain cookies and users can delete cookies or set themselves to have them removed automatically after each session. A distinction is made between permanent and temporary cookies. With so-called session cookies, users can ensure that the activity only lasts for the duration of the session and ends at the latest when the computer is shut down.