Ask your grandparents what cookies are, and you’ll probably be told they are tasty treats made from flour, sugar, butter, and a few other ingredients. Ever since 1994, however, the term has taken on a completely different meaning related to the Internet. In that year, a 23-year-old American programmer named Lou Montulli invented the cookie. Fast-forward to the present day, and cookies have become not only commonplace but also a subject of growing concern, particularly third-party ones.
Cookies in the digital age have a few different names: Internet cookies, Web cookies, browser cookies, or just cookies. In the most basic terms, a cookie is a piece of text that contains some personal information about a user, such as log-in details or shopping cart contents. One type of cookie is called a first-party cookie. These are designed to make the user’s experience of a Web site smoother and more enjoyable. Generated by the Web site being visited, first-party cookies allow things like sign-in data to be automatically filled and language preferences to be retained from visit to visit. Without first-party cookies, visitors to Web sites would need to input information again and again every single time they visit a site.
On the other hand, third-party cookies are not created by the Web site a person visits but by other Web sites, or “third parties.” These are typically used for monitoring users’ online activity and building detailed profiles based on those patterns. Unlike first-party cookies, which improve user experience, third-party cookies are intended to help advertisers better target consumers. This is why individuals will often see ads that feature products related to their online searches.
Photo: Adobestock 照片：Adobestock
問看看你的阿公阿嬤「cookie」是什麼，他們可能會跟你說cookie是由麵粉、糖、奶油和一些其他的原料所製成的美味點心。然而，自1994年以來，這一個詞有了完全不同的含義，是與網路有關。那一年，一位名叫盧．蒙特利的二十三歲美國程式設計師發明了cookie。時間快轉到現今，cookie不僅變得普遍，而且還益發受到關注，尤其是第三方cookie。
數位時代的cookie有好幾個不同的名稱：網際網路 cookie、網路 cookie、瀏覽器cookie或就只是叫cookie。用最基本的話來說，cookie是一段文字，其中包含一些關於使用者的個人資訊，例如登入的詳細資訊或是放在購物車的東西。有一種cookie稱為第一方cookie。這些是被設計來讓使用者的網站體驗更加順暢、愉悅。第一方cookie由訪問的網站產生，在每次造訪時，可自動填入登入資料、保留語言偏好等等。若沒有第一方 cookie，每次訪問網站時就需要一次又一次地輸入資訊。
另一方面，第三方 cookie 並非由使用者訪問的網站產生，而是由其他網站 ── 也就是「第三方」── 所生成。這些通常用來監控使用者的網路活動並根據那些模式建立詳細的描述。與改善使用者體驗的第一方cookie不同，第三方 cookie的目的在於幫助廣告商更精準地瞄準消費者。這就是人們常會看到廣告所推銷的產品跟自己的網路搜尋有關的原因。
Words in Use
1. ingredient n. 原料，食材
Without the main ingredient, the soup lacked its signature flavor.
沒有主要食材，那道湯就少了其代表性的風味。
2. completely adv. 完全地，徹底地
The report is completely finished, and we can submit it now.
這個報告全都完成了，我們現在可以交了。
3. digital a. 數位的
Some people prefer reading digital books on their e-reader.
有些人偏好用電子閱讀器閱讀電子書。
4. contents n. 容器內的物品（恆用複數）
content n.（書籍、演講等的）內容
The contents of the box are fragile and need to be handled with care.
那個箱子內的東西是易碎品，需要小心處理。
The Web site’s content is informative and well-researched.
該網站的內容豐富且經過深入研究。
5. generate vt. 產生
The company aims to generate more revenue through innovative marketing strategies.
該公司旨在透過創新的行銷策略產生更多的收入。
Practical Phrases
1. take a bite out of... 咬一口……；減少∕削弱…標題 “Taking a Bite Out of Internet Cookies” 是雙關語。此處使用 cookie 兩種不同含義，既可以字面上理解為「咬一口（意指深入了解）網路餅乾」，又隱喻著「限制網路 cookie」的政策變化。
Kevin can’t wait to take a bite out of the delicious cake.
凱文等不及要咬一口美味的蛋糕。
Studying all night took a big bite out of my energy levels.
整晚熬夜讀書讓我的精力大大減少。
2. in + Adj. + terms 以……的方式來說
In simple terms, gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
簡單來說，地心引力就是把物體拉向地球的力。
3. be intended to V 目的在於……
These warnings are intended to get people’s attention.
這些警告旨在引起人們的注意。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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