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What is a cookie?
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A cookie is a special instruction set sent by a web server. The instruction set basically tells your browser to log some information to a file. The ability of certain web browsers (such as Netscape and Internet Explorer) to send and receive HTTP cookies provides for flexibility when designing web sites. When a cookie is received, the web browser writes it and the requested information to the local drive. It can be any type of information, anything from your e-mail address to the last 10 web sites you've visited. Once the cookie has been stored on the browser side, the browser sends the cookie back to the site (each time it loads.) This way, the web site that requested the cookie can identify the visitor to their page. This allows for extensive personalization of a web site. For example, localconnect planetdirect requests a large cookie storing all sorts of information. In this way, evey time a user brings up localconnect planetdirect, they are greeted with a personalized screen welcoming them and displaying their personal selection of information.
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