Can I use Cookies?

Spiders do not read cookies. Therefore, if your web site uses cookies, make sure that all the web pages you want to have indexed can be accessed without accepting a cookie.

A cookie is a small text file that a web Server can save in a userÂ’s browser for future retrieval when that same user returns. It can be used to store login information or other preferences to make it easier or better for users to use a particular web site.

Cookies are very safe to use in the sense that they cannot be read or shared across different users or web sites. Cookies may also be 128bits secured. If a cookie is set on your browser, the web site that wrote it is the only web site that can read it. In addition, other users of a web site cannot get to the information in your cookie — it can't be transferred or shared.

Thus, even if search engine spiders did accept cookies, there would be no way for them to re-fetch one in a userÂ’s browser when the user clicks a Link in a search result. Consequently, there is really no point in writing cookies for or sending cookies to the search engines.

 

Tip:

You can turn off cookies in your own browser to test if your web site can be accessed without them. Refer to your manual or your browserÂ’s help files for instructions on how to turn off cookies. Usually these instructions will appear under "advanced options". For Microsoft Internet Explorer go to Tools >Internet options > Privacy >Advanced> Then follow the directions according to your IE version. For more help with accepting or blocking cookies, search the IE help file for “cookies”.