Where are cookies stored?

Cookies are stored on the client side, in the user's browser.

In simple terms: cookies live on the user's computer or device, not on the server.

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#Where exactly cookies are stored

#In the browser

Cookies are stored in:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Safari
• Edge and other browsers

Each browser stores its cookies separately.

If you open the site in a different browser, the cookie will not be there.

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#How the browser uses cookies

1. The server sends a cookie to the browser
2. The browser stores it locally
3. On every subsequent request to this site, the browser automatically attaches the cookie
4. The server reads the cookie and "recognizes" the user

The user does not see this process.

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#Important for an interview

• cookies are not stored on the server
• the server stores only related data (for example, session data keyed by the cookie's ID)
• cookies are tied to:
  • the domain
  • the browser
  • the specific device

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#What happens when cookies are cleared

If the user:

• clears their cookies
• opens an "incognito" window
• switches browsers or devices

the site "forgets" the user (authorization, settings, and the cart disappear).

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#Real-life example

A cookie is like a ticket:

• the ticket is in your pocket (the client)
• the inspector (the server) only checks the number
• if you throw the ticket away, you won't be recognized

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#Short answer for an interview

Remember this wording:

Cookies are stored on the client side, in the user's browser, and are automatically sent to the server with HTTP requests to the corresponding site.