A Cookie file is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user's web browser while a user is browsing a website. When the user browses the same website in the future, the data stored in the cookie can be retrieved by the website to notify the website of the user's previous activity. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember the state of the website or activity the user had taken in the past. This can include clicking particular buttons, logging in, or a record of which pages were visited by the user even months or years ago.
Purposes of storage and gaining access to cookies:
- Functional cookies - For example: Currency display selection, additions to the shopping basket.
- Analytics cookies - For example: Collect information about user browsing and pageviews, usually anonymously. Also to identify bots so that the actual number of pageviews and visitors is accurate.
- Performance cookies - To monitor website performance and collect anonymous data on how visitors use a website. These cookies provide information to help improve how a website works.
Due to the vast number of technological solutions it is not possible to publish clear guidelines how to set the conditions of storage and gaining access to cookies using settings of all available devices and software installed on them. However, in most cases, select "Tools" or "Settings" and there find the section that corresponds to the configuration settings for cookies or for the management of privacy. Detailed information is usually provided by the manufacturer of the device or browser in a manual or on their website.
For further information please see www.allaboutcookies.org