Cookies are files created by a website that are stored on your device when you visit the site, and they identify you in various ways.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are an integral part of modern web technology. From the moment you visit a website, it creates a file known as a cookie to identify you. Through cookies, websites can store session information, language preferences, and other data needed to offer personalized content and advertisements.

Even after you leave a website, cookies remain on your computer or phone for a certain period. If you return to the site before the cookies expire, the website recognizes you. For example, cookies ensure that your session remains active when you return to a website where you logged in. Similarly, on shopping websites, if you search for a product and then later see advertisements for similar products, that's because of cookies.

What Are Cookies Used For?

Cookies help websites function properly and offer a personalized experience by recognizing users. They are used for session management, personalization, and tracking.

Session Management

When you log into a website, a cookie is created to identify you, allowing your session to remain active for a certain period without the need to log in again. Cookies also allow the website to recognize you as you navigate across different pages.

Store Personalization Settings

Cookies sent to your device by a website can store your personalization settings, offering a tailored user experience. Information like selected interface themes, font size, and content interests are stored and used during future visits.

Collect Tracking Data

Although tracking generally follows users anonymously, it can give the impression of privacy invasion. Cookies allow you to encounter targeted, personalized advertisements. They also record your behavior on the website to help website administrators create various behavioral analyses.

Types of Cookies

Cookies are generally divided into two categories based on their usage: session cookies and persistent cookies.

Session Cookies

These are also known as temporary cookies. They are created when a user logs into a website and are placed in the device's memory. These cookies are deleted when the session ends. They are used to keep your session active while navigating different pages on the same website, and to maintain the contents of a shopping cart.

Persistent Cookies

As the name suggests, these cookies are stored on a user's device for a longer duration. They are used during their validity period. Settings related to the website, such as language choice and theme preference, are stored through persistent cookies.
Based on who creates and uses the cookies, they can be divided into first-party cookies and third-party cookies.

First-Party Cookies

These are cookies created and stored by the website you visit. They are used to store session information, display preferences, and similar settings.

Third-Party Cookies

In addition to first-party cookies, third-party cookies are also placed on your system by other sources when you visit a website. These cookies are used to collect user behavior data. The data collected is utilized to prepare visit-related statistics and deliver personalized advertisements.