What are cookies stored on your device's hard drive typically used for?

Cookies stored on a device's hard drive are typically used to store user preferences persistently. When a user interacts with a website, cookies can save settings and personalized information, which allows the site to remember these preferences the next time the user visits. This enhances the user experience by enabling features such as remembering login credentials, language choices, or items in a shopping cart.

Persistent cookies, unlike session cookies that are temporary and expire once the browser is closed, remain on the user's device for a specific period, saving these preferences across sessions. This functionality makes browsing more convenient and tailored to individual users, significantly improving usability on frequently visited sites.