When you browse certain web pages, small files are downloaded to your computer that hold information that can be retrieved by other pages on that site. When a server receives a request from a browser that includes a cookie, the server is able to use the information stored in the cookie and modify the page accordingly. For example, the server might customize what is sent back to the user, or keep a log of particular user’s requests. Cookies can be used on Xoops websites and are usually for modifying functions and content rather than storing information about users.