1.Cookie Testing is mainly used to test the cookies that are saved in the web browser.
2.When ever a web application is being accessed by the use of a server then The term cookie can be defined as the portion of data saved in the form of text in the browser history.
3. It is used to send the request details every time back to the server on Same page request is being sent for the specific web page from the web application server and then a cookie is used to increase the access to the website.

Why do we need Cookie Testing?

1)Cookie testing is needed to check if particular information is being sent back to the server
2)Each and every time the browser requests information from the server this information should be saved.
3)It is important to check the website functions and to verify how the cookies are being written to files and stored in the hard drive.
4)Cookies should be tested because they store very important information within it.

Steps for Cookies Testing:-

There are 6 steps to test cookies.

Step 1: Disable cookies

• To start this testing first we should disabled the cookies.
•  To disable cookies we want to open browser settings. 
• Once the cookies are disabled then different functionalities, web pages and General functionalities monitoring  can be tested easily.
•  The websites should proactively be able to recover when any failure occurs on testing. 
• In the market some websites provide information for the user to help whenever the cookies are disabled. 
• Testing should be done  in all scenarios that are handled upfront.

Step 2: Testing cookies by editing them

• The Cookie can be edited with its information to test the application. 
• This scenario is valid when cookies store information like usernames, passwords, etc. 
• The testing can be done by Using the cookie file. 
• The cookie files can change easily by editing the current id with any other valid or invalid number. 
• Once the change is done the website should not allow you to login. 
• It should show the proper error message access denied because the username is changed.

Step 3: Testing by Removing  the cookies.

• In this scenario cookies need to be deleted or removed completely. 
• After deleting the cookies we want to restart  the website and we need to observe its behavior. 
• After restarting the web site errors or failures  should not be present.
• The browser should work as expected. 
• Cookies are not mandatory. It depends on the user if they want to be saved or not.

Step 4: Corrupt the cookies                                                            

• In the security perspective It is very important as hackers use the corrupted cookie information to access unauthorized information about personal and organization applications.
•  This is usually done by the hackers corrupting the cookie or by overwriting the cookie information for getting the access to the applications through the corrupted cookie. 
• This test is important for banking, financial and investment applications. 
• Security of these applications should be high. 
• The behavior of cookies should be observed when they are destroyed. 
• This observation can help in finding bugs with the cookies if any.

Step 5: Cookie Encryption testing

• For the main purpose of security, it is important that all usernames, user id’s and other sensitive information which is stored in cookie files of websites should be encrypted. 
• The encryption should be checked before being sent to the local computer.

Step 6: Testing behavior of cookies across various browsers

•  Cookie should work only on the created browser and it should store the cookie information only on the same browser where it is created.
•  It should not work in the remaining browsers where present in the system.
• This cross-browser testing should be done exactly.

Cookie Testing Techniques:-

Some main techniques to test the cookie are mentioned below:

• Deactivating the cookies
• Corrupting the cookies
• Rejecting the cookies
• Cross Browser testing
• Encryption of Cookies
• Testing with different browser settings

 By using above test techniques we can easily test the functionality and working of the cookies and all so properly all the data can be validated.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cookie Testing:-

Main advantages and disadvantages are mentioned below.

Advantages:-

• Users can implement the cookies easily and they do not require any server to store the data. On the computers of the users, they are stored.
• Cookies can be generated in a way that they expire when a session expires. This makes them present only till the user is active. This also protects security.
• Cookies help in storing information and they work in a way where users don’t know that the information is being stored.
• Cookies mainly need less memory to store data. and there is no server involved to store data and no need to send data back to the server.
• Cookies are very useful to the user’s to store the data in cookies for  days, months and even years.It is easy for the user to check the information.
• The information in Cookies will still be available even if a server crashes.Cookies will store the information in the client’s hard disk.
• Cookies make users browse the internet faster and easier.

Disadvantages:-

• Some functionalities will not work when cookies are disabled in Loss of site traffic.
• Some browsers give pop-ups when overuse of cookies are used. While testing many cookies need to be enabled and disabled.
• Sometimes sensitive information is stored in cookies without encryption it may cause security issues.

Cookies and it’s data :-

View, edit, and delete cookies

Conclusion:-

Cookies are very useful to the users to store the information in their own systems. It is important to do cookie testing because cookies store sensitive information. Cookies can be tested by editing, rejecting and even destroying them. This cookie testing helps users in all perspectives and validating the information stored properly in the cookies.