Glossary: Cookie

A cookie is a small piece of data a website stores in a visitor’s browser to remember information across page loads or sessions, such as login state, preferences, or a tracking identifier. Cookies have long been the default mechanism for web analytics, though privacy regulations and browser restrictions have pushed many tools toward cookieless approaches.

Examples

• A login cookie keeps a user signed in across page visits.

• An analytics cookie assigns a visitor a unique ID to track sessions over time.

• A cookie consent banner asks users to opt in before non-essential cookies are set.

Related reading

Explore First Party Cookie, Third Party Cookie, Cookieless Analytics, and PII (Personally Identifiable Information).

FAQs

Why are cookies used in analytics?

They let a tool recognize the same visitor across multiple page views or sessions without requiring a login.

What are the privacy considerations for analytics cookies?

Cookies can recognize a browser across events, but their use may require notice, consent, or other safeguards depending on purpose and jurisdiction. Browser restrictions can also limit their lifetime or availability.

What is the difference between a first-party and a third-party cookie?

A first-party cookie is set in the context of the site a person visits; a third-party cookie is set in a different site context, often by an embedded service. Browser policies and legal requirements can apply to either, depending on use.