NIMCET 2026 — Computer PYQ

The correct option is 2. Small text files stored on the user's computer to save site preferences and other details.

Explanation:

To understand the concept of cookies clearly, let's explore their core functionality and contrast them with the incorrect choices:

• What are HTTP Cookies? HTTP is a stateless protocol, meaning a web server treats each request from a browser independently and cannot inherently remember a user's previous interactions. To solve this, servers issue Cookies, which are tiny data string blocks or text files sent to the client browser. The browser stores them locally on the persistent hardware drive. Every time the user loads a page from that domain again, the browser sends that cookie file back with the header request, enabling features like keeping items in a shopping cart, maintaining active login sessions, or storing customized display settings.

• Why Option 1 and 3 are incorrect: The sequential list of websites that a user visits across current or past browsing periods is known as Browser History. History is managed internally by the browser software application and is not saved as configuration cookies distributed by individual external servers.

• Why Option 4 is incorrect: Cookies themselves are plain text datasets. They do not contain executable script logic or binary code files, which means they are completely passive and cannot act as viruses or malware scripts to infect systems on their own.

Core Exchange Mechanism:

$$\text{Web Server}\stackrel{\text{Sends Cookie (Saves Session ID / Preference)}}{\to }\text{Client Browser Storage}$$

$$\text{Client Browser Storage}\stackrel{\text{Attaches Cookie with next request}}{\to }\text{Web Server (Recognizes User)}$$