Cookies are a common feature used on almost all websites. A cookie is a small text file that is downloaded onto a device to allow a website to recognise that device and to store some information about the user’s preferences or past actions on that website. A cookie is designed to provide a number of features to help the site operate effectively and to improve the experience of the reader.
From the very first edition of The Guardian in 1821, our journalism has been funded in part by advertising. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall. Instead, our journalism is funded by a combination of reader support and advertising revenue. Our journalism is not influenced by the advertising we display and our journalists are free to, and often do, challenge the activities of companies and organisations that advertise and sponsor content that appears in Guardian sites and publications.