what is a session cookie
A session cookie is a small, temporary piece of data that a website stores in your browser to remember who you are and what you’re doing just for the duration of that visit (the “session”).
Simple definition
- A session cookie lives only while your browser (or tab) is open and is deleted when you close it.
- It usually holds a random session ID that lets the server link you to your temporary data, like login state or cart contents.
How it works (step‑by‑step)
- You open a website; the server starts a new session for you.
- The server generates a random session ID and sends it to your browser as a session cookie.
- Your browser sends that cookie back with each request, so the site “remembers” you across pages.
- When you close the browser or log out, the session ends and the cookie is deleted.
What session cookies are used for
- Keeping you logged in while you click around a site.
- Remembering items in a shopping cart during checkout.
- Preserving choices like language or form progress for that visit.
Session vs persistent cookies (quick view)
| Type | Lifetime | Typical uses | Storage behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session cookie | Only while the session is open; deleted when browser closes | Login state, cart contents, in- session preferences | Stored in temporary memory; not meant to remain after closing |
| Persistent cookie | Stays after closing browser until its set expiry date | “Remember me” logins, long- term preferences, analytics | Stored on disk so it survives future visits |
Privacy & legal angle
- Session cookies are generally considered less intrusive because they are short-lived and often strictly necessary for core site functions.
- Under laws like GDPR, “strictly necessary” session cookies may not require prior consent, while non-essential tracking cookies usually do.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
