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Commonly called simply cookies, HTTP or web cookies are pieces of data – in form of text files – which are stored on a client computer when browsing web pages (if not specified otherwise in the browser options).
Note: Not all web pages send cookies!
Authentification and tracking
Each time a user accesses an already visited web page, the browser sends back a copy of the cookies file to the web server. This allows the web server to authenticate users and track specific information about them (user tracking), to send user-specific versions of requested pages by adapting contents and layout. The latter can be done according to the collected users’ profiles or the users preferences. By themselves, cookies cannot carry out any operation.
Browser options
Today, most modern browsers include an option to accept or reject cookies, but it is worth noting that rejecting cookies can reduce the functionality of some websites or even make them inaccessible.
In Microsoft Windows XP, for example, cookies are stored in C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default.
How to reject or enable cookies?
Depending on your browser, there are several ways to reject or enable cookies. You can usually regulate cookies in the privacy settings of your browser.
In Microsoft Edge follow these steps:
- Select Menu (3 dots icon on top right corner of the browser)
- Select Settings > Site permissions > Cookies and site data
- Make the required settings
Why is this information important for translators and translation teachers?
In order to be able to communicate efficiently via the internet, translators should know what cookies are and how they can set up their internet browser to accept or reject cookies.