Learn about cookies
No jargon, no legalese — just clear answers to the questions people actually ask about website cookies. When you're ready, scan a site to see its cookies for real.
- What are cookies used for? A cookie is a small text file a website asks your browser to store, then reads back on later visits. That simple mechanism does everything from keeping you logged in to following you around the web for advertising. Here is what they are actually used for.
- Should I accept cookies from websites? Short answer: you almost never have to accept non-essential cookies, and rejecting them rarely breaks anything. Here is how to decide quickly each time a banner appears.
- What are tracking cookies? A tracking cookie is one used to recognise your browser across more than one website, so a company can build a picture of what you do online — usually to target advertising.
- First-party vs third-party cookies The difference comes down to who sets the cookie: the website you are visiting, or some other company embedded in its pages.
- Cookies vs local storage Cookies and localStorage both store data in your browser, but they behave differently — and a common myth is that using localStorage instead of cookies avoids consent rules. It does not.
- Are cookies safe? Cookies are not programs and cannot infect your device or read your files. The real issue with cookies is privacy, not security — and it is manageable.
Looking up a specific cookie? Try the cookie dictionary instead.