What Are Cookies?

Cookies are data files stored on your browser and device when you visit any website. Cookies serve various purposes, such as recognising the user, storing and retrieving information about browsing habits, or customising the way content is displayed.

What Information Do Cookies Store?

Cookies store technical data, user preferences, and content customisation. Typically, cookies do not contain personal data. Any personal information stored within a cookie is only that which the user has provided in a form on the website. Additionally, when a cookie does contain personal data, it is usually encrypted and unreadable to third parties.

WHAT TYPES OF COOKIES EXIST?

Depending on the entity that manages the domain from which the cookies are sent and processes the data collected, cookies can be classified as follows:

First-party cookies: These are sent to the user’s device from a device or domain managed by the website owner, and they are used to provide the requested service.

Third-party cookies: These are sent to the user’s device from a device or domain not managed by the website owner, but by another entity that processes the data obtained through the cookies.

Depending on the duration of time the cookies are stored in the user’s browser, they are classified as:

Session cookies: These collect and store data while the user is accessing a website. They are typically used to store information that is only needed for the provision of the service requested by the user on a one-time basis (e.g., a list of purchased products).

Persistent cookies: The data remains stored on the device and can be accessed and processed for a defined period set by the cookie’s owner, which can range from a few minutes to several years.

Depending on the purpose for which the data collected is processed, cookies are classified as follows:

Technical cookies: These allow the user to navigate a website, platform, or application and use the various options or services available, such as controlling data traffic and communication, identifying the session, accessing restricted areas, remembering items in a shopping basket, completing a purchase process, registering or participating in an event, using security features during browsing, storing content for video or audio streaming, or sharing content via social media.

Personalisation cookies: These allow the user to access a service with certain general features pre-defined based on a series of criteria on the user’s device, such as the language, the type of browser used to access the service, the regional settings from where the service is accessed, etc.

Analytics cookies: These allow the website owner to track and analyse the behaviour of users on the linked websites. The information collected by these cookies is used to measure activity on websites, applications, or platforms, and to create user browsing profiles. This helps introduce improvements based on data analysis of user usage.

Advertising cookies: These manage advertising space in the most efficient way possible.

Behavioural advertising cookies: These store information about the user’s behaviour, which is obtained by observing their browsing habits. This allows for the development of a specific profile to display targeted advertising based on this information.

External social media cookies: These are used to allow visitors to interact with content from various social platforms (e.g., Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and are generated exclusively for users of those social networks. The terms of use of these cookies and the information collected are governed by the privacy policy of the relevant social media platform.