What is a cookie?
An HTTP cookie (web cookie, browser cookie) is a small piece of text data that save on the client’s side.
What are cookies used for?
Cookies are mainly used for the following purposes: session management, personalization, and tracking.
Session management relates to logins, shopping carts, game scores, or anything else the server should remember.
Personalization relates to the user preferences, e.g. saving the layout state so it can be restored to the same state when next time.
Tracking relates to recording and user traffic analytics.
Where are cookies stored?
Cookies are stored on the disk through the browser Cookies Storage. There is no generic location, it depends entirely on the browser, and in some cases the version as well.
Example of how Cookie Storage looks from inside the browser (here Chrome browser):
Are computer cookies bad?
The cookie is the plain text and the cookies themselves aren’t harmful in the sense that they can’t install viruses on your computer or other malware. However, some cyberattacks can hijack cookies and get access to your browsing sessions. Most browsers contain privacy settings, allowing you to review and manage cookie files.