Cookies

A cookie is a text string that is included with Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests and responses. Cookies are used to maintain state information as you navigate different pages on a Web site or return to the Web site at a later time. This article provides information about cookies.

Definition

Cookies are defined in the Request for Comments (RFC) 2965 document, " HTTP State Management Mechanism." You can find RFC documents at the following RFC Editor Web site:

http://www.rfc-editor.org

Cookies can be created by client-side script in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page (for example, by using a script written in Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition or JScript), by Win32 programs that use the Microsoft Win32 Internet functions (InternetSetCookie and InternetGetCookie), or by server-side script (for example, a script written in Visual Basic Scripting Edition in an Active Server Pages [ASP] page, or a Common Gateway Interface [CGI] script).

You have the ability to enable or disable cookies, or have Internet Explorer prompt you before accepting cookies in Internet Explorer 4 and later. Note that disabling cookies may prevent some Web services from working correctly, and disabling cookies does not make you anonymous or prevent Web sites from tracking your browsing habits. HTTP requests still include information about where you came from (HTTP Referer), your IP address, browser version, operating system, and other information.

Persistent vs. Session Cookies

Cookies are either stored in memory (session cookies) or placed on your hard disk (persistent cookies). Persistent cookies are written to the Cookies folder under either your user profile folder or the Windir\Cookies folder. The Temporary Internet Files index is updated with pointers to the actual cookies files.

The Members Area uses a temporary file called a session cookie to check whether you are logged in. The file is temporarily cached on your computer the moment you login successfully, and is deleted immediately you click the logout button. However, if cookies have been disabled in your browser's settings, you will not be able to login, and you may receive the following message: "Your session has Timed Out due to a period of inactivity"