What Are Persistent Cookies?

Persistent cookies allow a website to remember information between visits. Instead of ending with the browser session, they have a defined expiry date or maximum lifetime.

A language-selection cookie is a simple example. If you choose English today, a persistent cookie can help the website remember that choice when you return next week.

Common uses include:

• Remembering language, region, or display preferences.

• Supporting a “remember me” sign-in feature.

• Recognizing returning browsers for analytics.

• Maintaining identifiers used for advertising.

The website sets the intended lifetime using Expires, which specifies a date, or Max-Age, which specifies a duration in seconds. If both are present, Max-Age takes precedence.

“Persistent” does not mean permanent. Users can delete these cookies, and browser restrictions may remove them before their intended expiry. It also describes duration—not whether a cookie is first-party, third-party, essential, or used for tracking.

Your cookie policy should explain what these cookies do and how long they are expected to remain.