Choosing session or persistent cookies for a scenario

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A bank website lets you log in on a shared school computer. Which cookie type should it use?

A Persistent cookie, because it keeps you logged in for next time

B Session cookie, because it is deleted when the browser closes

2. A website remembers that you chose French as your language, and you want it to still be French in three months. Which cookie type fits?

A Persistent cookie, because the setting must last for later visits

B Session cookie, because the setting must last for later visits

3. An online shop only needs to hold your basket during one visit. Which is the better choice?

A Session cookie, because the basket is only needed until the visit ends

B Persistent cookie, because the basket is only needed until the visit ends

4. Which answer is better for an exam question that asks you to choose a cookie and justify it?

A Session cookie, because cookies are used on websites

B Session cookie, because the data is only needed until the browser closes

5. A user ticks 'Remember me' so they do not have to type their username again next week. Which cookie type is needed?

A Persistent cookie

B Session cookie

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Set-Cookie: lang=fr; Max-Age=15552000		AThe cart is only needed during one visit, so it should be a session cookie. A persistent cookie that lasts 5 years is not needed and stores data for far too long.
2Set-Cookie: cart=Item42		Bcookie_type = "persistent" # language, months
3On a shared school computer, a bank login should use a session cookie because it is deleted when the browser closes and the next user cannot get in.		CA session cookie: it has no expiry time, so it is deleted when the browser is closed.
4A website that remembers your language choice for months needs a persistent cookie because the setting must still be there on your next visit.		DA persistent cookie stays on a shared computer after the browser closes, so the next person could use the account. A session cookie is the safe choice.
5Bank login on a library PC: use a persistent cookie because it is quicker next time.		Ecookie_type = "session" # bank login, shared PC
6One-visit shopping cart: use a persistent cookie for 5 years.		FA persistent cookie: it lasts about 6 months, so the language setting is remembered on later visits.

Definitions

session or persistent

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

SCENARIO ← "bank login, shared computer" COOKIE ← "_______"

SCENARIO ← "language setting for months" COOKIE ← "__________"

SCENARIO ← "one-visit shopping cart" COOKIE ← "_______"

IF NeededLater ____ COOKIE ← "persistent" ELSE COOKIE ← "session"

Session _______ the cart is not needed later

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A cookie ← "persistent"

B scenario ← "bank, shared PC"

C why ← "because it is deleted"

D OUTPUT cookie, why

Question 2

A need ← "language for months"

B lasts ← "many visits"

C IF lasts = "many visits" THEN

D cookie ← "session"

E ENDIF

Question 3

A scenario ← "language setting"

B cookie ← "session"

C why ← "because it is kept"

D OUTPUT cookie

Question 4

A scenario ← "language setting"

B lasts ← "for months"

C cookie ← "persistent"

D why ← "because it is deleted"

E OUTPUT cookie, why

Question 5

A scenario ← "bank, shared PC"

B lasts ← "for many visits"

C cookie ← "session"

D OUTPUT cookie

Answer Key

Choosing session or persistent cookies for a scenario

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Session cookie, because it is deleted when the browser closes

A — Persistent cookie, because the setting must last for later visits

A — Session cookie, because the basket is only needed until the visit ends

B — Session cookie, because the data is only needed until the browser closes

A — Persistent cookie

Section B: Match the Pairs

Set-Cookie: lang=fr; Max-Age=15552000 → A persistent cookie: it lasts about 6 months, so the language setting is remembered on later visits.

Set-Cookie: cart=Item42 → A session cookie: it has no expiry time, so it is deleted when the browser is closed.

On a shared school computer, a bank login should use a session cookie because it is deleted when the browser closes and the next user cannot get in. → cookie_type = "session" # bank login, shared PC

A website that remembers your language choice for months needs a persistent cookie because the setting must still be there on your next visit. → cookie_type = "persistent" # language, months

Bank login on a library PC: use a persistent cookie because it is quicker next time. → A persistent cookie stays on a shared computer after the browser closes, so the next person could use the account. A session cookie is the safe choice.

One-visit shopping cart: use a persistent cookie for 5 years. → The cart is only needed during one visit, so it should be a session cookie. A persistent cookie that lasts 5 years is not needed and stores data for far too long.

Section C: Definitions

session or persistent — Decide how long a cookie must last: session if it can go when the browser closes, persistent if it must last for later visits. Justify your choice with because.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

SCENARIO ← "bank login, shared computer"
COOKIE ← "session"

SCENARIO ← "language setting for months"
COOKIE ← "persistent"

SCENARIO ← "one-visit shopping cart"
COOKIE ← "session"

IF NeededLater THEN
  COOKIE ← "persistent"
ELSE COOKIE ← "session"

Session because the cart is not needed later

Section E: Spot the Error

A — Line 1 is wrong. A bank login on a shared computer needs a session cookie, so the next user cannot get into the account after the browser closes. Line 1 should be cookie ← "session".

D — The setting must last for many visits, so the cookie must be persistent. A session cookie would be deleted when the browser closes and the language would be forgotten. Line 4 should be cookie ← "persistent".

B — A language setting must be remembered for months, so a persistent cookie is needed. A session cookie is deleted when the browser closes. Line 2 should be cookie ← "persistent".

D — The reason contradicts the choice. A persistent cookie is kept after the browser closes, it is not deleted. Line 4 should be why ← "because it is kept".

B — A bank login on a shared computer should only last until the browser closes. Saying it lasts for many visits would suggest a persistent cookie. Line 2 should be lasts ← "until browser closes".