A cookie is a small text file on your computer, created by a website to store information about your visit, such as your preferences. Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the website that created the cookie can read it. Cookies typically contain two pieces of information: a site name and a unique ID. Most major websites use cookies.
There are two main types of cookie. A session cookie is used in order to allow the services that you request during the session to be provided. Once you close your browser, session cookies simply terminate. An example of the information that a session cookie might capture is information about the products in your basket as you go through the purchase checkout process on a web site. A persistent cookie is stored on your hard disk and does not terminate when you close your browser. This means that the web site will remember your information and settings if you revisit it in the future, making access faster and more convenient. In addition, some persistent cookies are used for marketing analytics.