Session Cookies
Session cookies are small pieces of data stored temporarily in a user's browser to maintain state and track user interactions during a single browsing session. They are essential for web applications to remember user-specific information, such as login status, shopping cart contents, or form data, without requiring server-side storage for each request. Unlike persistent cookies, session cookies are automatically deleted when the browser is closed, making them suitable for temporary data that doesn't need to persist across sessions.
Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data. They are crucial for creating seamless user experiences by avoiding the need to re-enter information and enabling server-side applications to identify and respond to individual users across multiple HTTP requests. However, for long-term persistence, developers should consider persistent cookies or server-side sessions instead.