A cookie is a computer file placed on your hard drive by the server of the site you are visiting.

It contains several pieces of information:

• • The name of the server that placed it
  • An ID in the form of a unique number
  • An expiration date…

This information is sometimes stored on your computer in a simple text file which the server can access to read and write information to.

Cookies have various functions. They enable the site that placed the cookie to recognize a web user, from one visit to the next, using a unique ID.

These cookies can also be used to store the contents of a shopping basket, others are used to save the language settings for a site, and others are used for targeted advertising.

Others are used to store your browsing preferences on the site in order to constantly improve its quality.