What are Cookies?

A cookie is information saved by your web browser. When you visit a website, the site may place a cookie on your web browser so it can recognize your device in the future. If you return to that site later on, it can read that cookie to remember you from your last visit and keep track of you over time. They are used to collect information about the pages you view and your activities on the site. They enable the site to recognize you, for example by: remembering your user ID, offering an online shopping cart, keeping track of your preferences if you visit the website again, customize your browsing experience, or deliver ads targeted to you. The cookie transmits this information back to the website's computer (or server). You can set your web browser to warn you about attempts to place cookies on your computer or to limit the type of cookies you allow.

Two General Types

Single-session cookies help with navigation on the website, only record information temporarily, and are erased when the user quits the session or closes the browser. They are enable by default in order to provide the smoothest navigation experience possible. Single-session cookies are known as Tier 1 technologies under applicable government guidance.

Persistent/Multi-Session Cookies remain on your computer and record information every time you visit some websites. They are stored on the hard drive of your computer until you manually delete them from a browser folder, or until they expire, which can be months or years after they were placed on your computer. Persistent/multi-session cookies are known as Tier 2 technologies under applicable government guidance.