Web¶

How Does a Cookie Actually Work?

I used to think that the web was one continuous conversation. I log in, and the website "remembers" me while I browse.

But the truth is, the web is stateless. Every time you click a link, it's like meeting the server for the first time. It has no idea who you are or what you did five seconds ago.

Cookies are the sticky notes that solve this problem.

What happens when you type 'google.com' into your browser?

It’s the classic interview question, but it’s also one of the most interesting ways to understand how the internet actually works.

When you type google.com and hit Enter, your browser goes on a massive scavenger hunt across the globe, all in a few hundred milliseconds.