Cookie (cookie files) — are small text files that a website saves in the user’s browser. They store information between visits: for example, whether the user has already logged into an account, which language they selected or which products they added to the cart. When the website is opened again, the browser automatically sends this data back to the server.
What Cookies Are Used For
Cookies are used to store data that the website uses when the user visits again. For example:
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account authorization;
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website settings;
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cart contents;
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current session data;
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information for analytics and personalization.
Types of Cookies
Two main types are most commonly distinguished.
Session Cookies only work until the browser is closed. They are usually used to store the user’s current session.
Persistent Cookies remain in the browser after the website is closed and are deleted only after they expire or manually. They allow the website to remember the user during the next visit.
Cookies are also divided into:
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first-party — created by the website itself;
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third-party — created by third-party services, such as advertising or analytics systems. Modern browsers are gradually restricting support for third-party cookies due to privacy requirements.
Why Cookies Are Important in Traffic Arbitrage
In traffic arbitrage, cookies are most often used in two cases.
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Account authorization. Many accounts are provided together with a cookie file (for example, in json or txt format). If it contains an active session, the account can be opened without re-entering the username and password.
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Profile warm-up. Before launching ads from a new profile, it is used as a regular browser for some time: websites are visited, different actions are performed and a browsing history is gradually built. Cookies — are one part of this data, so they are usually saved together with the profile.
Important to Know
Cookies and a digital fingerprint — are different technologies.
Cookies store data that a website saves in the browser. A digital fingerprint is formed from the characteristics of the browser and device itself. Even if all cookies are deleted, the digital fingerprint will remain almost the same. Therefore, when working with multiple accounts, each profile usually has its own set of cookies.
