What does 'cookies' refer to in the context of online data tracking?

In the context of online data tracking, 'cookies' refer to small files stored on a user's device. These files are created by web browsers when a user visits a website and are used to remember information about the user's visit. This can include login information, user preferences, products added to shopping carts, and tracking user behavior for targeted advertising purposes.

Cookies are essential for providing a more personalized browsing experience, as they enable websites to remember user settings and preferences across sessions. For example, if a user visits an online store, cookies can help keep track of items in their shopping cart even after the user navigates away to other pages or returns later.

The other choices do not accurately represent what cookies are. For instance, data collected from social media profiles pertains to user interactions and data from social platforms, while encrypted passwords stored on servers relate to security and data protection. Email content sent to users is unrelated to how cookies function in tracking user activity on websites.