Cookies
Cookies are small pieces of data stored on a user's device by a web browser, used to maintain stateful information across HTTP requests. They enable websites to remember user preferences, login sessions, and tracking data, facilitating personalized web experiences. Cookies are a fundamental part of web development for handling client-side state management.
Developers should learn about cookies when building web applications that require user authentication, session management, or personalization features, such as e-commerce sites or social media platforms. They are essential for implementing features like 'remember me' functionality, shopping carts, and user-specific settings, though modern alternatives like localStorage and sessionStorage are often preferred for non-sensitive data due to better performance and security considerations.