**Trackers:**
Trackers, often referred to as web trackers or tracking pixels, are snippets of code embedded in websites, emails, or applications that enable the collection of user data and behavior. Their primary purpose is to gather information about users' interactions with online content, allowing websites and advertisers to analyze user behavior, preferences, and demographics.
Here's how trackers work:
1. **Code Embedding:** Website owners or advertisers embed tracker codes in their content, such as in the HTML code of a webpage or in the content of an email.
2. **User Interaction:** When a user visits a webpage or interacts with content containing a tracker, the code is triggered.
3. **Data Collection:** The tracker collects various data points, including but not limited to:
- **Page Views:** Which pages the user visits.
- **Clicks:** What links or buttons the user clicks on.
- **Time Spent:** How long the user stays on a page.
- **Referral Source:** How the user arrived on the page (search engine, social media, etc.).
4. **Data Transmission:** The collected data is sent back to the server of the tracking company or website owner.
5. **User Profiling:** Over time, these data points are used to create user profiles, which help tailor content, advertisements, and user experiences to individual preferences.
**Cookies:**
Cookies are small text files that websites place on a user's device (usually a web browser) to store certain information. Cookies are used to enhance user experience, remember preferences, and enable various functionalities on websites. They can also be used for tracking, though not all cookies are used for this purpose.
Here's how cookies work:
1. **Cookie Creation:** When you visit a website, the server sends a small piece of data (the cookie) to your browser, which stores it on your device.
2. **Information Storage:** Cookies can store various types of information, such as login credentials, language preferences, shopping cart contents, and more.
3. **Session Cookies:** These cookies are temporary and are deleted once you close your browser. They are often used to maintain your session during a single visit to a website.
4. **Persistent Cookies:** These cookies remain on your device even after you close your browser. They can store information that helps websites remember you across visits, such as login information or personalized settings.
5. **Tracking Cookies:** Some persistent cookies are used for tracking user behavior across websites. Advertisers and analytics companies use these cookies to gather data about your online activities and target you with relevant ads.
**Key Differences:**
- Trackers are code snippets that collect user data, while cookies are small files that store information.
- Cookies can be used for both technical purposes (remembering user preferences) and tracking purposes, while trackers are specifically designed for tracking.
- Trackers can collect a wide range of data about user interactions, while cookies typically store specific information related to a user's session or preferences.