Editing Encyclopedia:FAQ/Technical (section)

==Does Wikipedia use [[HTTP cookie|cookies]]?==
:Cookies are not required to read or edit Wikipedia, but they are required in order to [[Special:Userlogin|log in]] and link your edits to a user account.

:When you log in, the wiki will set a temporary session cookie which identifies your login session; this will be expired when your browser exits (or after an inactivity timeout), and is not saved on your hard drive.

:Another cookie will be saved which lists the user name you last logged in under, to make subsequent logins just a teensy bit easier. (Actually two: one with your name, and one with your account's internal ID number; they must match up.) These cookies expire after 365 days. If this worries you, clear your cookies after completing your session.

:If you check the "remember my password" box on the login form, another cookie will be saved with a token that authenticates you to our servers (which is unrelated to your password). As long as this remains valid, you can bypass the login step on subsequent visits to the wiki. The cookie [[HTTP cookie#Expiration|expires]] after 365 days, or is removed if you [[Special:Userlogout|log out]]. If this worries you, don't use the option. (You should not use it on a public terminal!)

:See the [[wmf:Cookie statement|cookie statement]] linked at the bottom of each page for other details.