(n.) A handle, transaction ID, or other token of agreement between programs. The purpose of a cookie is to relate a later transaction to the current one. When a web server places a cookie on a client’s hard disk, it can use that information in a subsequent connection to determine how information should be sent to that particular client. Netscape originated the concept. The decision of whether to accept a cookie offered by a web server is entirely up to theclient. There is nothing inherently harmful or dangerous in accepting cookies, except that the client has no idea what information is transferred in the process. See also HTTP cookie.
cookie
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