All About Cookies and Cookie Retention Every Net User Should Know

When people mention cookies, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the dessert, but when it comes to the internet, cookies are actually a small, yet powerful kind of file. And the retention of these cookies can be one of the most crucial parts of running a successful website, as well as understanding your site’s visitors and users. You might wonder, “What are cookies and what is cookie retention?” These concepts will be explored in-depth.

A cookie is a piece of data, usually quite small, sent from a website to a web browser while someone is on a site. The web browser then stores this data. Cookies are almost like little memory files. They are able to record what a user did on a site, such as visiting certain pages or entering certain information.

Every website uses cookies, whether you are aware of it or not. They are essential to the functioning of almost every page. For example, cookies prevent people from needing to log in again and again; the retained cookie will keep the user logged in on the website, even if they visit other pages. This cookie also prevents an unauthorized user from accessing sensitive account information, which would be the case for online banking sites.

Cookie retention is just what it sounds like: it is the retention of cookies by users of a web browser. When a page sends the information to the browser, cookies are stored automatically. Cookies can be deleted from a web browser either by the user or automatically, depending on that user’s settings. But some users never delete cookies, or do so infrequently. Cookie retention can give extremely important insights as to how a user interacts with a website. For example, a user may visit a site and browse its pages without making a purchase, only to return a few weeks later and complete a transaction. This kind of information is extremely valuable if you are trying to understand how people use your website.

 

It is very important to be aware of different policies about cookies, especially if you wish to run a website without encountering legal issues. In the European Union, for example, sites that use cookies must display a small box stating that they are doing so, as well as offering the user the option to opt out or leave the site if they do not feel comfortable with that policy. This information is usually available online, at the country’s official website for technology or internet usage.

But as long as you are using the information in a legally acceptable way, cookies and cookie retention can give you invaluable insights about your site. If, for example, the data shows that people frequently leave your site after landing on its first page, you may have designed an unattractive or barely functional page. And fixing the problem before your website tanks completely can save you hours of hassle and lots of money later on. With the use of cookies and cookie retention, you will be able to strengthen your website and appeal to its users.