When you visit a Web site, the server can send a cookie to your machine to be retrieved during a future visit.
The next time you visit that Web site, your browser checks the Web site's network address and looks for cookies that match.
If a matching cookie is found, it is sent to the server as part of the browser's request.
In theory, cookies are a way for Web sites to "borrow" a very small part of a user's hard drive space.
As more and more Web sites began to use cookies, the amount of space taken up on users' computers has grown enormously.
Also, cookies appeared that were shared among a number of related Web sites which accumulated information on the Web travels of users.
As a result, more users now block cookies through their browser's settings or delete their cookies regularly.
When you create your own Web application with ASP, don't rely solely on the capability to write a cookie and retrieve it at a later date.
There are many users who will not accept the cookie, and it is a poor design practice to create an application that crashes because an expected cookie was not found.
| Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 - 10.0 |
Select the 'Tools->Internet Options' menu item, and then open the 'Privacy' tab - you can then adjust the slider to block or allow various categories of cookie. Alternatively by clicking 'Advanced...'
you can exercise finer control over the browser's behavior, choosing whether to accept, block, or prompt for cookies originating either on the website you are visiting (first party cookies) or originating from websites other than the one you are visiting
(third party cookies, typically used by banner advertisements hosted on an advertiser's website). |
| Firefox 7.0 and newer |
Use the 'Tools->Options' menu item (may be under the Firefox button), then choose the 'Privacy' tab. Set the 'Firefox will:' option to 'Use custom settings for history'.
Now you can choose whether cookies are enabled for websites you visit and third party websites, and if so how long they will persist. You can also use the 'Exceptions' button to override the settings for particular websites.
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| Google Chrome 5.0 |
Choose 'Options' on the 'Cutomize and control' menu, then open the 'Under the Bonnet' tab. In the 'Privacy' section, click on the 'Content settings...' button and open the 'Cookies tab.
Set the required cookie behaviour and use the 'Exceptions...' button (if required) to configure specific websites. |
| Apple Safari 5.1 |
Choose 'Preferences...' on the 'Settings' or 'Edit' menu (Windows) or the Safari menu (MacOS), then open the 'Privacy' tab. Now set the required cookie behaviour. |
| Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad) |
From the home screen tap the 'Settings' icon, then choose 'Safari'. Find the 'Accept Cookies' option and set the required cookie behaviour. |
| Android browser |
Tap the 'Internet' icon to start the browser, then press the phone's menu button. From the list of options, choose 'More', and then select 'Settings', then 'Privacy and Security'. Scroll down the resulting list and check or uncheck the 'Accept Cookies' item. |
| Android Chrome |
Start Chrome, then open the options menu and scroll down to 'Settings', followed by 'Site setttings'. You can now choose whether to allow sites to save and read cookie data. |
| Windows Phone 7/8 |
In Internet Explorer, tap 'More...' then 'Settings'. Check or clear the 'Allow cookies on my phone' item to set the required cookie behaviour. |
| Blackberry |
Open the browser from the home screen, then press the Menu key, followed by 'Options'. Under 'Privacy & Security' you can choose whether or not to 'Accept Cookies'. Press the Menu key and select 'Save' to save your selection. |