What are cookies (on websites)?

Cookies are small text files that a website saves on your device when you visit it.
They contain information about you or how you use the site – like your login, language, or what you put in a shopping cart.

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What do people mean by “German cookies”?

“German cookies” isn’t a special type of cookie. It usually refers to how cookies are handled on German (or European) websites, especially because of strict privacy laws.

In Germany – and the EU in general – there’s a law called the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Because of this, websites must ask for your permission before saving most types of cookies.

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That’s why German websites show big cookie pop-ups

When you visit a German website, you’ll often see a cookie banner that asks things like:
• Can we use cookies?
• Do you accept just the necessary cookies?
• Or also cookies for analytics and advertising?

And unlike in some other countries, they can’t track you unless you say yes.

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Simple analogy:

“Imagine you walk into a shop. The shopkeeper remembers your name, what you bought, and how long you stayed – to help you next time.
That’s like cookies.
But in Germany, the shopkeeper must first ask your permission to remember anything about you – and you can say no.”