Cookies and cache are both related to browsing data and can affect your online experience. Here are the differences between cookies and cache:
Cookies
- Cookies are files created by websites you visit that store information about your browsing habits and preferences.
- They can store user IDs, session IDs, form-filling data, pages on the site you visited before, and what buttons you pressed.
- Cookies can also include the contents of your online shopping cart.
- There are different types of cookies, such as session cookies, first-party cookies, and third-party/tracking cookies.
- Session cookies are temporary and get deleted when the browser is closed, while first-party cookies persist even after the browser is closed.
- Third-party/tracking cookies are used to track your activities on the web and enable advertising companies to track your internet history.
- Cookies can enhance user experiences through authorization cookies and aid in delivering more relevant advertising through tracking scripts.
Cache
- Cache is a storage system that holds various website elements, such as images, HTML, and CSS code.
- Cache saves the website resources (images, videos, etc.) on your device to make it load faster on repeated use.
- The cache remembers parts of pages, like images, to help them open faster during your next visit.
- Cache stores website information for repeated use.
- Cache is employed to store online page resources during a browser for the long run purpose or to decrease the loading time.
Clearing cookies and cache can help resolve issues with loading or formatting on websites. However, clearing them can also delete some settings on sites and make some sites seem slower because content, like images, needs to load again.
