Cookies and Sessions in Web Development: An Introductory Guide

Introduction

In the vast realm of web development, maintaining the continuity of a user’s experience and managing data effectively across different pages of a website are fundamental requirements. Cookies and sessions play a critical role in filling this need. They help in preserving user information from one page to another, thereby making the web experience smoother and more personalized. This guide will delve into the basics of cookies and sessions, explaining their importance and how they operate within the context of HTTP communications. Essential for beginners, this introduction aims to demystify the concepts and provide a solid foundation for further exploration in web development.

Basics of Cookies

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What are Cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data sent from a website and stored on the user’s computer by the user’s web browser while the user is browsing. They are designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember stateful information (such as items added in the shopping cart in an online store) or to record the user’s browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past). Cookies can also be used to…