What are cookies in privacy terms?

• A. A statement in a privacy policy about data sharing in mergers.
• B. Explicit consent to data collection.
• C. Small text files that websites place on a user's computer to collect data, such as user preferences and browsing history, often used to recognize returning users.
• D. A vendor licensing agreement.

Answer: (C)

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device to collect data like your preferences and browsing history, and to recognize you when you return. They help sites remember login status, language settings, and items in your shopping cart, and they can come from the site you’re visiting or from third parties embedded on the page. Because cookies track activity across sites, privacy rules often require disclosure and, in many contexts, user consent; you can control or delete cookies through your browser settings.

The other descriptions don’t describe what cookies are: a privacy policy statement is about how data is shared or handled, not the storage mechanism; explicit consent to data collection is a separate requirement, not the technique itself; a vendor licensing agreement is unrelated to how websites store or manage data.