The Different Types of Internet Cookies You Need To Know

One can assert that internet cookies flocked over the interweb at one time or the other in the history of the internet.

Theoretically, there was a high chance that you would have merely accepted them without realizing the pros and cons, just to move on and explore.

These merely ignored consent questions matter. It tracks a visitor’s behavior on the web, remembers preferences, or even login details on his behalf so that businesses can give him a better website experience.

Essential cookies may sound straightforward enough; however, there are many other different cookies trying to log user details. While most internet users accept the cookies not even knowing what they are, nevertheless, it could put one in a privacy dilemma.

This article gives you a tour of the different types of cookies and what they do. By the end of this, you will know a thing or two about clear navigation on the web with your safety and awareness equally in mind.

What are Internet Cookies?

Starting with the basic introduction to the matter, we will first clarify what exactly cookies are. Cookies are very small text files placed on your device while visiting a website.

The files on your device hold information about your use of the site, including log-in details, preference settings, and sites that you might have viewed. Upon revisiting the site, it can send the cookie back to the server, which enables the website to recognize you, retrieve your cookies, and customize the experience just for you.

Importance of Internet Cookies

Internet cookies are essential for online users and businesses. And why do they matter? 

• They allow websites to remember user choices (such as the language a user has selected and theme issues). Customization starts from the site experience to the browsing experience. 
• Some cookies handle user sessions, meaning the sessions last when a user has logged in through different sites without the need to re-enter user info. 
• Cookies collect data on user movement and behavior. Based on that information, companies understand how visitors navigate and on which interactions they engage. Businesses regard this information as invaluable in improving the site functionality and user experience. 
• In other words, cookies monitor the interests and behaviors of users so that companies can offer advertising that is tailor-made or customized to users. This enables the companies to advertise or promote products and services that are of interest to users and be able to generate higher interest, greater interaction, or conversions from those users in line with their preferences. 
• Certain cookies synergize with security; they prevent unauthorized attempts to access a site.

Primary Types of Internet Cookies

Cookies can be broadly categorized into various types. Each of these cookies serves a distinct purpose and has a unique function. To break down, let us further dive into each of these types of cookies:

1. Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary cookies that stay in the device’s memory until the browsing session ends.

They do not contain personal information on your device but, rather, are used to control your browsing experience.

Uses and Benefits of Session Cookies

• Session cookies retain shopping cart information while navigating a website so that users can proceed to other web pages without having to reselect their items.
• It governs user sessions; for instance, users can maintain login sessions without the need to sign in repeatedly.
• Again, session cookies remember temporary preferences like form entries and search parameters to smooth the browsing experience.

2. Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies (also known as permanent cookies or storage cookies) are meant to be stored on your device even after you have closed your web browser.

Unlike session cookies, which are deleted upon closing the browser, persistent cookies are stored for a specific period, which can range from a few days to a few years, depending on the website settings that place the cookies.

These cookies enable the storage of login information, language settings, and site behavior preferences, making each visit to the site easier and more personalized.

Use Cases of Persistent Cookies

• Persistent cookies hold your login details to keep you logged in even across multiple sessions of a website. You wouldn’t need to input your credentials every time you access a site, which is especially beneficial for websites you use almost every day, such as email providers or social media sites.
• These types of cookies can remember your preferences, such as the language you prefer to be displayed on a site or specific themes or customizations. You must receive a consistently regular and personally refined experience with every visit to a website.
• Persistent cookies can measure an aggregate of user behavior on a website over time. This data can help companies identify how users interact with their website and understand trends that enable informed decision-making on the continued improvement of website functionality and user experience.
• Finally, persistent cookies provide information about a user’s interests and interactions with other sites, allowing websites and advertisers to deliver targeted ads that are more relevant to that user than other, more generalized ads. This can increase advertising effectiveness and allow for greater user engagement.

3. Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are the creators of online advertising. They obtain information about where an individual sources information and insight into the given interests and preferences, in a complete picture of browsing behavior. 

Companies use this information to compile a comprehensive profile to make ads relevant to the user. Hence, the logic is that the more an ad appeals to the user, the more interesting it is to them, and therefore there is a chance at conversion, which is the ultimate advantage of the advertising campaign. 

Role of Third-Party Cookies in Advertising and Tracking

• These also come into play in clickstream gathering across different sites in the user-initiated area. Firms are interested in data that shows what sites were clicked on with unusually high percentages by their users, insofar as exercises pertaining to goods or services of interest to them, and how they go about navigating the net.
• The clustering of third-party cookie-based online advertising into various components seems artificial; however, it will help the reader focus on a few of the main issues that need to be addressed and discussed.
• If we assume that user-initiated activities occur when a user follows a hyperlink or otherwise requests a file from a Web server (e.g., a Java applet or ActiveX control), these activities are considered user-initiated. Consequently, the original reason for the decline in the effectiveness of this type of marketing comes from clandestine tracking across websites and in clickstreams. Firms are interested in data that shows which sites were clicked at an extraordinarily high percentage by their users, examples of use for goods or services that interest them, and how they navigate the net.

4. Essential Cookies

Cookies are also called strictly necessary cookies; they are necessary for the basic functioning of a website. A user is unable to disable these cookies without interfering with the site’s main functionalities.

Essential cookies may be set in response to user actions, such as logging in, filling out forms, or setting up privacy preferences. These cookies do not track browsing activity or gather information for marketing purposes; rather, they are meant to make sure the website functions properly and efficiently.

How Essential Cookies Enhance Website Experience

• Essential, or strictly necessary, cookies are used on different pages to keep users logged in for smooth and secure sessions.
• They keep track of whatever you have in your shopping cart and process the checkout, making online shopping a breeze. 
• These cookies keep your information and user sessions secure from unauthorized access and breaches.
• Essential cookies are temporary is, they are used only for the session duration to speed up the loading of web pages and enhance the overall performance of the site.
• They remember user settings, such as language and region preferences, allowing the website to display information based on the needs of the users.

5. Performance Cookies 

Analytics cookies, also known as performance cookies, gather data about how users engage with a website. These cookies collect information on metrics like bounce rates, traffic sources, most visited pages, and page load times.

Website owners can enhance the user experience by utilizing data to understand and assess the site’s performance. Crucially, performance cookies aggregate data to find patterns and areas for improvement rather than gathering personally identifiable information about visitors.

Effect on Website Performance and User Experience

• Through the analysis of user interactions and the identification of problems, performance cookies assist website owners in improving site navigation, speeding up loading times, and improving overall usability. Visitors have a more seamless and pleasurable experience as a result.
• Performance cookies give information about the most visited pages or content. This enables website owners to make data-driven decisions about enhancing or eliminating less effective pages and to prioritize high-performing content.
• Performance cookies collect information that enables ongoing website optimization. Website owners can identify bottlenecks, resolve technical issues, and add features that enhance the user experience.
• Performance cookies help websites run more smoothly by analyzing how users interact with the site. The efficiency of the website may be enhanced as a result of quicker page loads, less server load, and improved resource management.
• Performance cookies allow for targeted improvements based on user behavior and preferences. This means website changes will likely meet visitors’ needs and expectations, increasing satisfaction and engagement.

6. Functional Cookies 

Functional cookies offer improved, customized features by remembering your preferences. They improve the user experience’s usability and customization.

The website you visit or third-party providers that use its services may set these cookies.

How Functional Cookies Customize User Experiences

• These cookies allow social media sharing, video playback, and live chat support. By remembering your past interactions, functional cookies can provide a more dynamic and interesting experience.
• Websites that use functional cookies are better able to present content relevant to your interests. To ensure that the content you see aligns with your preferences, they can, for instance, recall the types of articles you enjoy reading or the products you frequently browse.
• By storing data about your previous interactions with the website, functional cookies facilitate navigation and use. This eliminates the need for repetitive tasks by remembering form inputs, log-in information, and other customizations.
• Across sessions and devices, functional cookies guarantee that the user interface stays consistent with your preferences. This ensures a seamless experience by remembering any modifications you make to the site’s appearance or functionality for subsequent visits.

7. Targeting and Advertising Cookies

The primary purpose of targeting and advertising cookies is to gather information about your preferences and browsing habits. Targeting and advertising cookies are typically placed on your device by ad networks or third-party advertisers. 

By collecting information, such as which websites you visit, the articles you view, and the links you click on, advertisers can develop a highly detailed profile of your preferences and behaviours.

How Cookies are Used for Advertising to Monitor User Activity

• Advertising cookies track your interactions with various websites, collecting information about the pages you view, the products you examine, and the advertisements you click on. 
• Advertising cookies enable advertisers to display more relevant and personalized ads to users by analyzing the data they collect.
• Retargeting campaigns utilize advertising cookies to display advertisements for goods or services you’ve previously viewed on other websites.
• By controlling the frequency of ad displays, these cookies ensure that you don’t see the same advertisement repeatedly.
• By monitoring key metrics such as clicks, impressions, and conversions, advertising cookies track the effectiveness of ad campaigns.

8. HTML5 Cookies

HTML5 cookies, often called web or local storage, are a modern alternative to traditional cookies.

These cookies are small text files stored on your device. They allow you to store and access much more data quickly without sending data back and forth between the browser and server with each request.

HTML5 cookies use two main types of storage mechanisms:

1. Local Storage

Local storage enables web apps to store data persistently (across sessions) meaning the data is stored even after the browser is closed and opened again. It therefore enables the web app to store data that is intended to persist, such as user preferences, saved game states, or the state of an app. 

Local storage allows up to 5MB of storage per domain (not considering the more limited size of cookies). That is much greater than the size of cookies. Local storage is persistent, meaning the data is stored locally and only available to the same domain, increasing storage security.

2. Session Storage

Session storage is similar to local storage, except it is designed to store data for a single session.  The data disappears when the browser tab is cleared. 

Session storage is used for temporary data that will only exist while the user is browsing, such as form inputs or the number of items in the shopping cart.  The data saved in session storage can only be accessed by the same domain, and only within the same session.

Benefits of HTML5 Cookies

• HTML5 cookies give more space than traditional cookies, so we can store more complex data locally.
• Each time we store data locally with HTML5 cookies, it reduces the number of requests made to the server, improving performance and speed.
• HTML5 cookies limit the sharing of data to the same domain, so we can limit the opportunity for cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks on the local data, and make the data more secure.
• Local storage allows an experience to persist between sessions, so user preferences and settings can still remain even after clearing the browser.

Other Internet Cookies 

In addition to standard cookies, there are more advanced types of cookies that operate differently and can pose more significant privacy risks. 

Let’s delve into each type.

Flash Cookies (Local Shared Objects)

Flash cookies, also known as Local Shared Objects (LSOs), are a type of cookie placed on a device by the Adobe Flash Player. Flash cookies are stored in a different location on the local device, and the storage for Flash cookies allows for larger amounts of data than regular browser cookies.

Additionally, it usually retains user preferences and settings for Flash-based apps and games. However, Flash cookies can also retain information about the user’s behavior from one session to another and across different sites, posing significant privacy concerns.

Zombie Cookies

A cookie is known as a zombie cookie when it automatically regenerates after you delete it.

They are commonly stored in obscure storage locations, such as HTML5 local storage or Flash cookies, rather than traditional cookie storage locations.

When users delete their cookies, zombie cookies can easily reappear by retrieving the data from their hidden storage locations. Since they are designed to be persistent, they know where to look to easily reestablish a presence among user-stored data without being detected.

Zombie cookies are primarily used for tracking the user and pose substantial privacy concerns as they can ignore all standard active cookie management and deletion processes.

Supercookies

Supercookies are a newer and comparatively more aggressive type of cookie. The term reflects more invasive storage of cookies primarily for the purpose of tracking user behavior across multiple sites.

Supercookies may be stored at the network level (e.g., in HTTP headers or by the ISP in managed databases) making supercookies very difficult to find and even more difficult to remove. By being stored at the network level, supercookies can track user activity regardless if the user changes browsers or uses incognito mode in their current browser.

Given their invasive nature, supercookies are heavily scrutinized and regulated due to potential violations of personal privacy.

Cookie Consent Laws and Regulations

Now, with this detailed guide, you should be familiar with the various types of cookies. 

However, a cookie notice is more than just establishing trust; it is legal requirement.

There are many laws and regulations worldwide that also require adherence to the principle that a consent notice is necessary to protect the privacy of users and ensure transparency in the collection and use of their data.

Here are some key regulations: 

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): The GDPR, which is enforced in the European Union, requires your website to collect explicit consent from users before storing unnecessary cookies and then inform users about the type of cookies and their purpose.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): The CCPA, enforced in California, requires that you provide transparent information about your practices to users, allowing them to opt out of the sale of their personal data.

ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law): This EU directive requires that your website obtain the consent of users before placing cookies on their devices. Consent must be informed and clear, therefore, transparency is key.

How to Manage and Control Cookies

Managing and controlling internet cookies is essential for protecting your privacy and ensuring a personalized web experience. 

Nevertheless, effectively managing cookies can be complex, requiring detailed technical knowledge and expertise.

However, this challenge can be simplified using tools like WP Cookie Consent, which helps you easily manage website cookie preferences.

WP Cookie Consent is a powerful plugin designed to help website owners comply with global data privacy laws and pWP Cookie Consent is a simple yet powerful WordPress plugin that can help you comply with data privacy laws globally while delivering transparency to your users. With WP Cookie Consent, you can accomplish the following: 

• Let users know about cookie utilization and acquisition consent using an attractive banner feature. 
• Allow users to accept or decline cookie consents, in addition to custom preference options for essential, functional, or advertising cookies. 
• If you manage cookies effectively, your web page will remain compliant with applicable laws, such as the GDPR, CCPA, and the ePrivacy Directive. 
• Generate user consent reports and cookie usage reports for your own records, user information, and to be compliant with cookie guidelines. 

Using WP Cookie Consent could put the user back in control of their data, and develop trust in your website.

FAQ

Conclusion

To explore the web securely and create a custom online experience, it is important to understand cookies and all the different types of cookies out there.

Cookies allow for functionality, session enhancement, and targeted advertising, yet they can infringe upon user privacy if mishandled. When users can identify the purpose and operational function of cookies, they can make knowledgeable decisions about consent and sharing of their data.

Ultimately, tools such as WP Cookie Consent can make cookie management easier because they help to create a transparent, easy to understand, secure, and legally sound experience.

Further, if you liked the article, you can also consider reading:

• What Are Functional Cookies? – An Ultimate Guide
• What Is Privacy Management and Why Is It Important?
• Top CCPA Fines for Non-Compliance: Key Cases and How to Avoid Penalties