Difference between Session and Cookies

Sessions and cookies are both methods of storing data for web applications, but they differ in how and where they store the data, and how long the data lasts.

Cookies:

1. Storage Location: Cookies are stored on the client’s browser (user’s device).
2. Data Lifetime: Cookies can be set to expire at a specific time or persist until the user manually deletes them.
3. Capacity: Cookies have a small storage capacity (around 4KB per cookie).
4. Security: Cookies are not very secure because they are stored on the client-side and can potentially be intercepted or modified.
5. Use Case: Cookies are often used for remembering user preferences, tracking sessions across different pages, or keeping the user logged in over time.

Sessions:

1. Storage Location: Sessions store data on the server, not on the client’s browser. The client only holds a session ID, which is sent with each request.
2. Data Lifetime: Sessions are usually temporary and can expire after a set period of inactivity, or when the user logs out or closes the browser.
3. Capacity: Sessions can store more data compared to cookies because the data is stored server-side.
4. Security: Sessions are more secure because the sensitive data is kept on the server, and only a session ID is stored on the client.
5. Use Case: Sessions are typically used for handling sensitive information, such as keeping a user logged in during their visit or storing items in a shopping cart.

Key Difference:

• Location of storage: Cookies are stored on the client-side, whereas sessions are stored on the server-side.
• Security: Sessions are more secure because they don’t expose sensitive data to the client, while cookies can be vulnerable to attacks if not properly secured.

Both can work together to enhance user experience, such as using cookies for storing a session ID and sessions for securely managing user data.