My Favorite Muppet!
So what are cookies, why are they so important, and what are they used for?
All Web Analytics professionals are crazy about cookies. Not unlike my childhood friend Cookie Monster. “Why”, you ask?
What are Cookies?
I can’t say it any better than Wikipedia.
In computing, a cookie (also tracking cookie, browser cookie, and HTTP cookie) is a small piece of text stored on a user’s computer by a web browser. A cookie consists of one or more name-value pairs containing bits of information such as user preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or other data used by websites.
It is sent as an HTTP header by a web server to a web browser and then sent back unchanged by the browser each time it accesses that server. A cookie can be used for authenticating, session tracking (state maintenance), and remembering specific information about users, such as site preferences or the contents of their electronic shopping carts. The term “cookie” is derived from “magic cookie”, a well-known concept in UNIX computing which inspired both the idea and the name of browser cookies. Some alternatives to cookies exist; each has its own uses, advantages, and drawbacks.
Being simple pieces of text, cookies are not executable. They are neither spyware or viruses, although cookies from certain sites are detected by many anti-spyware products because they can allow users to be tracked when they visit various sites.
Most modern browsers allow users to decide whether to accept cookies, and the time frame to keep them, but rejecting cookies makes some websites unusable. For example, shopping carts or login systems implemented using cookies do not work if cookies are disabled.
Why are They So Important & What are They Used for?
The collection of cookies is integral to each and every website analytics program. In the website analytics world, no Cookies means no (usable) website statistics. Web surfers are able to block cookies. But my experience shows that most people do not know what a cookie is. Nor do they have the knowledge to “turn them off”. So the blocking of cookies becomes a moot point – IMHO.
As mentioned above: “A cookie consists of one or more name-value pairs containing bits of information such as user preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or other data used by websites”. This is really the meat of it. The power of website analytics lies in the data captured by the…. COOKIE! Okay Web logs too (And they are yours, not somebody else’s)…. Perhaps one day I will actually blog about the Anatomy of a Cookie and Web Logs (Another Note(s) to self?).
Website analytics is not an exact science…. More of science with a dash (a large one) of art. It is the collection of reams of data and the subsequent interpretation of that data. In short, the collection of website data will not include each and every website visitor. It will include most visitors. (Another) Note to self: Blog about JavaScript (It too can affect the gathering of website statistics ). AFFF, another BLOG post to wake up in the middle of the night thinking about!
Now, we know what a Cookie is (at a very high level). Where’s the power? In the world before the Internet, a business owner would “kill” to gather the statistics available to website owners. I remember walking into stores and seeing people there with little hand counters (the precursor to Google Analytics?). They wanted to know how many people came in the door (a very simple website statistical measurement that is captured 24/7 – 365 days a year). An owner of a brick and mortar business wants to know all about customer behavior. “When did they come into my store? Which aisles did they walk down? How long were they here? Is this the first time they visit? Etc… ” From their perspective, gathering this data can be intrusive and overwhelming. Darn, if I walked into a store and were asked similar questions, I’d turn around and leave. And here’s the beauty. Website statistics gathering and the the subsequent analysis will give you this and oh so much more… without ever bothering the website’s visitor. A totally unintrusive (unobtrusive?) way to gain insights into your clients, their habits, their behavior… and so forth!
The topic of Cookies can be overwhelming in itself. In future posts, I will delve into other related areas. For now think “COOKIE!!”
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NB: Every time you visit a website, a cookie is created. You don’t know about it. You don’t think about it. But it is done. They will not harm your computer.
Side Note: You can delete all of the cookies in your web browser. Here’s a screenie from my browser (just before I deleted all my cookies!). Just thought I’d mention it…. (-;
