Explanation What Is a Browser Cookie
Have you ever heard the word Cookies? Food that is round, brown, and sweet, right? Yes, if interpreted in English. However, the Cookies referred to here are Cookies that are in a browser belonging to you.
Cookies in this browser are beneficial for you because the presence of Cookies will help you remember something in your browser.
For example, when you are surfing on Google, logging in to Facebook, or logging in at KasKus, you are logged out, but you do not have to fill in your password and email again when you reopen it. Therefore indirectly, you have left Cookies.
In this article, I wanted to discuss what cookies are in the browser and their functions. Please take a look.
What Are Browser Cookies?
Cookies are a collection of data that contains activity on a site. All this activity data will be saved to your computer. Then it will be sent back to the place you previously accessed.
An easy example is when logging in on social media such as Facebook or Instagram. When logging in, a password remembers notification will appear.
When you give the Remember Password permission, the login username and password will be stored on the computer, and you can use them again.
Purpose of Cookies
The purpose of cookies was created to find out what activities the user has done in the past. Such as a button, log in, or which page has been opened by the user at a particular time.
With cookies, it will be convenient and effective when used.
Cookies Function in Browser
The main functions of cookies are those related to the storage of site preferences and the storage of user-defined settings. Here are some of them:
1. To Save Login Data
This, as I have explained, is cookies, one of which functions to store login data (username, password, email, and so on).
When cookies store login data, you will not need to re-enter the data, be it your username, password and others, when you want to log into the account, you wish to.
2. Saving Site Data
All site preferences made by the user will be stored in the browser via cookies.
For example, you type the search word "banana" on Google and then open the site. Once you want to reaccess the area, then in the search, when you type "Company," Google will recommend "banana."
3. Displaying Content Relevant to Users
Cookies also have a function to remember content that you access frequently. Its purpose is to display relevant content when you are browsing on specific sites.
For example, you visit a marketplace site. Then you often look for computer equipment or automotive products.
So when you revisit the marketplace, you will often see computer or automotive equipment products in the marketplace recommendations.
4. Displaying Relevant Ads With Users
Most sites now have ads. Well, if you don't know, this type of ad comes from your browsing activity.
For example, you often browse about editing, then the ads that appear will mostly be about editing as well.
Cookies Safe or Not?
Cookies are safe because they cannot send viruses or malware to your computer system or laptop.
Especially for large sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and others, the security of cookie data is guaranteed.
If Cookies cannot transfer malware or viruses under normal circumstances because the data carried by Cookies does not change when moving from a computer to a website or vice versa. Data transfer These cookies do not affect your computer.
But you still have to be careful when doing your activities because if you visit suspicious and potentially dangerous sites, irresponsible people do not steal the information in Cookies.
Cookies File Size
The file size is tiny, no more than 4096 Bytes or 4KB per website visited. There is a limit on the total number of cookies on the client's hard disk. Each browser has a different number but is usually limited to around 300 Cookies. If the number has passed, the old Cookies will be deleted before the new ones are created.
Cookies also have an expiration date and are set. If the expiration date is empty, Cookies will be deleted when the connection with the server is closed. This occurs when the user completes a window or site tab or closes the entire browser.
How to Delete Cookies
Cookies are not permanent. If you need, you can delete it at any time. The method is as follows:
#1. Google Chrome
For Google Chrome, deletion of cookies can be done through the Privacy and Security settings page. Here are the steps:
1. First open Google Chrome
2. Select the three-dot icon on the right.
3. Then click Settings.
4. Later, you will be directed to the Google Chrome Settings page.
5. On this page, click the Privacy and Security menu in the left column.
6. Continue to click Clear Browsing Data.
7. Clear Browsing Data notification will appear. Check the Cookies and other site data options.
8. Finally, click the Clear Data button.
#2. Firefox
The steps to delete Cookies in Firefox are more or less the same as in Google Chrome. Here's how:
1. Open Firefox.
2. Continue to click the three-line icon on the right.
3. Click the Library menu.
4. Then select the History menu.
5. Click the Clear Recent History menu.
6. Later, a Clear Recent History notification will appear. Check the cookies and data you want to delete.
7. Finally, click the OK button to delete it.
#3. Microsoft Edge
Finally, if you usually use the Microsoft Edge browser, deleting cookies can be done through the browsing data settings. in full:
1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the side menu icon on the right, and select the Settings menu.
3. Continue looking for the Clear Browsing Data column in Microsoft Edge settings.
4. If so, please click the Choose what to clear button.
5. Check the Cookies and saved website data option.
6. Finally, click the Clear button to delete it.
The Final Word
In conclusion, cookies in the browser have a function to store data on your browsing activity. And valuable to make it easier for you when you want to return to access sites that have been visited.
Cookies are inherently secure and cannot transmit viruses or malware. Cookie data is also not permanent, so that it can be deleted at any time.
I hope it helps you.
