What Are Cookies?

"Cookies", also known as a "http Cookies", are small text files a browser sometimes stores on the user's machine, which are harmless. They do not hold executable code, so do not alter the machine in any way.

These plain text files hold information of the users interaction with the site.
A web page or server instructs a browser to store this information and then send it back with each subsequent request based on a set of rules.

They are unable to duplicate themselves or scan a users computer for information as they are only plain text files.

SO WHEN ARE COOKIES USED?

Cookies are used for a number of reasons, see a few examples below;

To store login details so the user can access protected areas of the website.

For analytics purposes so that the administrator can analyse where user's interact with the website. The administrator can then make improvements to the website if needed.

If a website has advertising the ad server can read the users cookies to determine how many times an advert has been shown, what order the adverts were shown or whether the user clicked an advert.

WHY ARE DAL USING COOKIES?

We use tracking analytics in order to follow users interactions with our website. This is needed in order for us to make improvements where needed to increase the usability of the site.