Understanding the Different Types of Web Cookies: Functionality and Duration

Introduction:

Picture this: you’re browsing your favorite online store, and it feels like it knows you – your preferences, your shopping habits, even your favorite color. How does it seem so intuitive? The secret lies in something so small yet powerful: web cookies. These tiny digital footprints play a monumental role in shaping our online experiences, yet their workings often remain a mystery to most of us.

In this deep dive, we’re unraveling the world of web cookies, shedding light on their types, functionalities, and how they impact our digital journey – for better or for worse. From ensuring your shopping cart remembers your choices to raising questions about digital privacy, web cookies are more than just tech jargon; they’re key players in the internet’s backstage.

So, let’s explore the unseen world of web cookies and discover how these small bits of data hold sway over our vast online universe.

What are Web Cookies?

Web cookies are small pieces of data stored on your device when you visit a website. They are used to remember your actions and preferences over a period of time, making your subsequent visits more personalized and efficient. IN this article we will look at the 3 main types of Cookie:

1. Session Cookies
2. Persistent Cookies
3. Third party Cookies

What are Session Cookies?

Session cookies, also known as transient cookies, are temporary cookies that are stored in a user’s browser only for the duration of their visit (or session) on a website. They are designed to be deleted automatically once the browser is closed.

What Information is Stored in Session Cookies?

The kind of information stored in session cookies can vary depending on the website’s functionality, but typically includes:

1. Session Identification: A unique ID that keeps track of the user’s session. This is essential for maintaining a consistent experience during a browsing session.
2. User Preferences: Short-term preferences such as language settings, menu preferences, or layout choices made during the session.
3. Shopping Cart Data: For e-commerce sites, session cookies remember items added to a shopping cart as a user navigates through the site.
4. Authentication Data: They temporarily store authentication information, allowing users to navigate through secure areas of a website without needing to log in repeatedly.
5. Form Inputs: Temporarily save information entered into form fields, useful in case a page refreshes or if the user navigates to a different page before submitting a form.

Explaining Session Cookies with a Shopping Experience:

Imagine you’re shopping online for a new laptop. You add a few options to your shopping cart, compare them, and finally decide on one. But just as you’re about to checkout, you get distracted and start looking at more shopping pages. With session cookies, when you return to the checkout within the same session, your chosen laptop and all your comparisons are still there in your cart, waiting for you. Without session cookies, you’d have to start the process all over again, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Do All Websites Install Session Cookies?

Not necessarily. Whether a website uses session cookies depends on its specific needs and functionalities.

1. Websites Requiring User Interaction: Sites that rely on user input and have interactive sessions, such as e-commerce platforms, social media, or online banking, commonly use session cookies for a seamless user experience.
2. Simple Websites: On the other hand, basic informational websites with no login or user-specific interactions may not use session cookies.

Privacy and Security Aspects

Session cookies are generally considered safe and privacy-friendly because they:

• Do not store information long-term.
• Are specific to a single session, reducing the risk of unauthorized use.
• Are typically not used for tracking purposes like persistent cookies.

Example: Session cookies on a public PC

Imagine Bob is using a public computer to access his email. Session cookies help keep his session private, ensuring that as soon as he closes the browser, all his session information, like login details, is wiped clean. This reduces the risk of someone else accessing his personal information.

What are Persistent Cookies?

Persistent cookies, also known as permanent or stored cookies, are cookies that remain on a user’s device for a predetermined period even after the browser is closed. This duration is set by the website that creates the cookie and can vary from a few days to several years.

Information Stored in Persistent Cookies

The information stored in persistent cookies generally includes:

1. User Preferences: Settings such as themes, language choices, and other preferences that the user does not need to reset every time they visit the site.
2. Login Information: Credentials or authentication tokens, allowing users to remain logged in over multiple sessions.
3. Tracking and Analytics Data: Used to gather long-term data on user behavior, website performance, and for targeted advertising.
4. Shopping Cart Contents: For e-commerce sites, items in a shopping cart can be remembered for a future visit.

Differences from Session Cookies

The primary difference between persistent and session cookies is their lifespan. While session cookies are deleted after the browser is closed, persistent cookies remain for a set period. This duration is what enables persistent cookies to provide a more personalized and convenient user experience over multiple visits.

Example: Personalization of User Experience:

Consider John, who frequently visits an online bookstore. He prefers reading science fiction and has customized his book recommendations accordingly. Thanks to persistent cookies, every time John visits the bookstore website, even after several days, it greets him with the latest science fiction titles, tailored to his interests. If the website didn’t use persistent cookies, John would have to reset his preferences every time, making the browsing experience less personal and more cumbersome.

Expiration and Deletion

When persistent cookies expire, they are meant to be automatically deleted by the browser. However, this depends on the browser’s functionality and settings. In most cases, expired cookies should no longer be active or store new information.

Potential Issues with Persistent Cookies

1. Privacy Concerns: Since they last longer, persistent cookies can raise privacy concerns, especially if they are used for extensive tracking and profiling.
2. Security Risks: If not properly secured, they can be vulnerable to attacks like cookie hijacking or cross-site scripting (XSS).
3. Silent Activity Post-Expiration: In general, cookies should not be active after their expiration date. However, there have been instances where cookies are used or manipulated beyond their intended lifespan, though this is not typical behavior of well-designed cookies and compliant websites.
4. Data Accuracy: Over time, the data stored in persistent cookies may become outdated if the user’s preferences or circumstances change, leading to a less accurate user experience.

Example: Persistent cookies being persistent!

Consider Sarah, who frequently browses online clothing stores. A persistent cookie from one of these stores could track her browsing habits over several months, gathering data about her fashion preferences. While this can lead to tailored offers and a personalized shopping experience, Sarah might be uncomfortable with the idea of a store tracking her online behavior over such an extended period, raising concerns about her privacy and data control

What are Third-Party Cookies?

Third-party cookies are cookies set by a domain other than the one you are visiting. These are typically used by external companies for tracking, analytics, and advertising purposes.

Information Stored in Third-Party Cookies

The information that third-party cookies store can vary, but commonly includes:

1. Browsing Activity and History: They can track which websites you visit, how long you stay, and what actions you take.
2. User Preferences and Interests: They gather data about your online behavior to understand your preferences, likes, and interests.
3. Device Information: This includes the type of device used, browser, operating system, and sometimes even the IP address.

How Do Third-Party Cookies Get on Your Computer?

Third-party cookies are placed on your computer in several ways, most commonly through:

1. Embedded Content: When you visit a website with embedded content (like ads, videos, social media widgets) from another domain, that domain may set a cookie on your device.
2. Ad Networks: Many websites participate in ad networks (like Google AdSense) where external ads are displayed. These networks use third-party cookies to track user behavior across all participating websites.

The Google Ad Network

Google’s advertising network, one of the largest in the world, extensively uses third-party cookies. Here’s the basic process:

1. Tracking Across Websites: When you visit a site using Google’s ad services, Google places a cookie that tracks your browsing.
2. Ad Personalization: This data helps Google display personalized ads based on your previous online activities, interests, and searches.
3. Cross-Site Advertisements: As you browse other sites within Google’s ad network, your browsing history influences the ads you see, aiming to make them more relevant to your interests. For example, if you search for flights to New York on one site, a third-party cookie from an ad network can record this interest. As you visit other websites in the same ad network, the cookie informs the network of your interest in New York flights, prompting related ads to appear.

Example: Online Advertising and User Behavior Tracking

Let’s picture Emily, a gardening enthusiast, who frequently searches online for gardening tips and equipment. One day, she visits a gardening blog that features ads from various gardening tool companies. Unbeknownst to her, the website uses third-party cookies from these advertising companies. As she clicks on an ad and browses through some gardening tools, these cookies track her activity and preferences. Later, as Emily visits other unrelated websites, she starts noticing ads for the same gardening tools and similar products. This is third-party cookies in action – tracking her across different sites to provide targeted advertisements based on her recent browsing behavior. While this can make ads more relevant to Emily’s interests, it also raises questions about privacy and data tracking, as her online behavior is being monitored and used by companies she might not be directly interacting with.

Understanding How Session, Persistent, and Third-Party Cookies Can Be Categorized by Function

Cookies on the internet can be classified into different categories based on their function and duration. Each category serves a unique purpose, affecting how websites operate and interact with users. Understanding these categories and how different types of cookies (session, persistent, and third-party) fit into them is crucial for comprehending the web browsing experience.

Category 1: Essential Cookies

• What are Essential Cookies used for: Essential cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of a website. They enable core functionalities like user login, session management, and security. Without these cookies, a website might not work properly or securely.
• Session and Persistent: Both session and persistent cookies can be essential. Session cookies might be used to maintain a secure user session during a visit, while persistent cookies can remember login details over time.
• Third-Party Involvement: Essential cookies are typically first-party (set by the visited website), but in some cases, third-party services used by the website for essential features might set these cookies.

Category 2: Functional Cookies

• What are Functional Cookies used for: These cookies provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They remember user choices (like language or region) and offer improved, more personalized features.
• Session and Persistent: Functional cookies are often persistent to remember user preferences over multiple visits, but they can also be session-based, especially for temporary settings within a user session.
• Third-Party Involvement: While often set by the original website, third-party plugins or widgets embedded in the site can also set functional cookies.

Category 3: Performance Cookies

• What are Performance Cookies used for: Performance cookies collect data about how visitors use a website, such as which pages are most frequently visited. This information is used to improve the website’s performance and the user experience.
• Session and Persistent: They can be both session (to analyze user behavior in a single session) and persistent (to understand long-term usage patterns).
• Third-Party Involvement: Many performance cookies are set by third-party analytics services like Google Analytics.

Category 4: Advertising/Targeting Cookies

• What are Advertising Cookies used for: These cookies track users across websites to gather data on their interests and online behavior. They are used to display targeted advertising and measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns.
• Persistent Nature: Advertising cookies are almost always persistent, as they need to track user preferences and behavior over an extended period.
• Third-Party Dominance: This category is predominantly made up of third-party cookies, set by advertising networks that work across different websites.

The Importance of Understanding Different Cookie Functions

In the modern digital landscape, where online privacy is a significant concern, understanding the different functions of cookies is crucial. Many websites, in compliance with privacy regulations, present users with cookie consent processes. These processes often require users to make choices about the types of cookies they consent to. Here’s why understanding these different functions is important:

Informed Consent

• Making Choices: Cookie consent dialogs often categorize cookies into essential, functional, performance, and advertising cookies. Knowing what each category entails allows users to make educated decisions about what they are consenting to.
• Privacy Implications: Different cookies have varying impacts on privacy. For instance, accepting advertising cookies usually means agreeing to more extensive tracking.

Personalized Browsing Experience

• Balancing Convenience and Privacy: Understanding the role of each cookie type helps in balancing a personalized experience with privacy concerns. For example, functional cookies enhance user experience but are not vital for website functionality.
• Site-Specific Decisions: The necessity of certain cookies can vary depending on the website. On some sites, rejecting performance cookies might have minimal impact, while on others, it might degrade the user experience.

Compliance and Trust

• Regulatory Compliance: For website owners, explaining the purpose of different cookies transparently helps in complying with legal requirements and building trust with users.
• Building Consumer Trust: Users are more likely to trust and engage with websites that provide clear, comprehensible information about their cookie usage.

Cookies and Affiliate Marketing

For an affiliate marketer, understanding cookies, particularly how they relate to compliance and earning commissions, is crucial. Here are key points that an affiliate marketer needs to consider:

Compliance and Legal Considerations

1. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure your website complies with privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA, etc. This involves having a clear cookie policy and consent mechanism.
2. Transparent Disclosure: Be transparent about the use of affiliate links and how cookies are involved in tracking purchases or referrals. This is often a requirement not just legally but also by affiliate programs.

Earning Commissions and Cookie Consent

1. Affiliate Tracking Cookies: Most affiliate programs use cookies to track referrals. These are typically persistent cookies that last for a set duration, ensuring that you earn a commission if a purchase is made within that timeframe.
2. Consent for Tracking Cookies: For your affiliate links to work effectively, visitors need to consent to these tracking cookies. If they decline, the tracking might not work, potentially affecting commission earnings.
3. Explicit Consent for Affiliate Cookies: Some affiliate marketers choose to be explicit about the need for cookie consent to ensure their tracking works. This can be a delicate balance between being transparent and not overly intrusive.

Example: Tech review blog earns affiliate commissions

Alex runs a tech review blog and uses affiliate links to earn commission. When one of his readers, Linda, clicks on an affiliate link for a smartphone and makes a purchase within 30 days, Alex receives a commission for the referral. This is possible because a persistent cookie tracks that Linda’s purchase originated from Alex’s blog. Without this cookie, the connection between Alex’s referral and Linda’s purchase would be lost, and Alex wouldn’t earn his commission.

Strategies for Affiliate Marketers

1. Educate Your Audience: Inform your audience about how affiliate links work and the role of cookies. An informed audience may be more willing to consent to cookies if they understand their purpose and your transparency.
2. Custom Cookie Consent Banners: Design your cookie consent banners or dialogs to explain the necessity of cookies for supporting your site through affiliate marketing.
3. Cookie Duration Awareness: Understand the cookie duration set by your affiliate programs. Longer duration cookies can potentially lead to more earnings, as they allow more time for a referred visitor to make a purchase.

Ethical Considerations

1. Ethical Marketing: Always prioritize your audience’s privacy and experience. Avoid aggressive tactics that might lead to cookie consent but could damage trust and credibility.
2. Quality Content: Focus on creating high-quality content that naturally encourages users to click on your affiliate links, rather than relying solely on cookie-based tracking.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our journey through the intricate world of web cookies reveals their indispensable role in the digital landscape. From the ephemeral yet essential session cookies that safeguard our immediate browsing sessions, to the persistent cookies that remember us long after we’ve logged off, and the third-party cookies that sketch our digital personas for advertisers, each type plays a unique role in shaping our online experiences. As we’ve seen, these tiny digital trackers are double-edged swords, offering both conveniences in personalization and challenges in privacy.

Now, as informed netizens, the onus is on us to navigate this cookie-laden web landscape wisely. It’s crucial to understand the choices we have, particularly when it comes to managing and consenting to cookie usage. Remember, every click, every consent matters in shaping not just your personal online experience but also the broader narrative of digital privacy.

For website owners and developers, it’s more important than ever to balance functionality with ethical responsibility. Transparent cookie policies and user-centric practices aren’t just regulatory requirements; they are foundational to building trust and credibility in the digital age.

So, as you next encounter a cookie consent banner or tweak your website’s cookie settings, take a moment to reflect on the impact of these choices. Embrace the convenience of cookies, but never at the expense of your digital autonomy and privacy. Let’s strive for a web ecosystem that respects user preferences and fosters trust, one cookie at a time.

And finally..

How will your understanding of web cookies influence your online behavior? Are there any steps you plan to take to manage your digital privacy?