What Are Cookies?

Q. What's like a biscuit but impossible to eat?

A. Yes, you've got it…

Still confused? Let us explain.

Every time you visit a website, the web server stores a cookie- a text file - on your computer's hard drive. This is so that the server can recognise you if you revisit.

If you like, it's the "crumb trail" left behind after you've been surfing - just as you'd leave a trail of crumbs after wandering around the house munching a biscuit. However, don't be alarmed – cookies are simple little things and they can't collect any personal information about you from your computer.

There are two types, and we use both:

Transient (or session) cookies

These only exist for the time you visit the site - they're deleted on exit. They recognise you as you move between pages, for example, recording items added to an online shopping basket. These cookies also help maintain security.

Persistent (or permanent) cookies

These stay on your machine until either you delete them yourself, or they expire (many are built with automatic deletion dates to help ensure your hard drive doesn't get overloaded). These cookies often store and re-enter your log-in information, so you don't need to remember membership details.

Additionally, cookies can be first or third party cookies. First party cookies are owned & created by the website you're viewing. Third party cookies are owned & created by an independent company, usually a company providing a service to the website owners.