Cookies are defined as small files stored on your computer by the web-browser that saves specific information about web activity. Every time the browser requests a web page, these files are sent back to the server to be analyzed. There are a lot of uses for Cookies and reasons why they are used on a website; here are some examples:

• Cookies can easily carry information (maximum of 4KB) between sessions within a website and within connected websites.
• Using a specific type of Cookie with a unique ID, users can keep track of how many hits their site gets.
• Because Cookies store state information on the computer, a user's website always remembers what state the browser is in.
• Use Cookies to personalize the websites you visit. For instance, if a window pops up displaying a message, and you never want to see that message again, there may be an option to enforce this site to remember. Sometimes, underneath these windows, an unchecked box followed by a message says to: Remember to never display this message again. If you check this box, the website will remember your choice and never display the message again to you personally.
• Using a specific type of file called a Tracking Cookie; users can learn more about their visitors and learn how to advertise their products according to what their visitors are personally interested in.
• Cookies store your interests on the start-up page.
• Can store passwords on specific websites so the user can log in automatically without having to re-type their password every time.