A cookie is a bit of information sent to your browser by a web server that you have visited on the internet. This information is stored in your browser until the next time you visit the same site. Cookies enable the Yahoo and Netscape sites to remember the types of links you usually click on and creates your start page accordingly. Another good use for cookies is found with online ordering systems. Cookies benefit the owner of the site you visit, by allowing it to track the number of people actually visiting their pages instead of forcing it to rely on counters, which could give erroneous reports since the same person could be visiting the site over and over.
Cookies are more detailed than simple figures.
Cookies are a good marketing tool for website owners, allowing them to target each customer differently according to their own habits and interests. This type of targeted marketing saves us as the customer or visitor time as well. For all practical purposes, cookies won't hurt you. They should be thought of as time-saving information for both the internet surfer and the website owner. However, if you choose not to take advantage of this tool, your browser should allow you to disable cookies or at least warn you when it's about to set one.