Scottish Government Governance Hub

What is a Cookie?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.

 

How Cookies work

Cookies store information on the device you’re using. Sometimes this information is essential if you want to use a website's functions. For example, if you need to log in, a cookie will allow the website to recognise your log-in details.

 

Cookies can also be used to build a profile of your activity on a website. This includes which pages you visit and how long you spend on each page.

 

How we use Cookies

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our site. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our site and make it quicker and easier for you to find what you need, or remembering your settings.  

 

We also collect information about how you use our website and produce detailed statistics about website activity.

 

Managing and deleting Cookies

You can withdraw consent at any time. All recent versions of popular browsers, like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, allow you to control cookies.  You can set your browser to:

• accept all cookies
• reject all cookies
• accept or reject only certain cookies

 

For example, you might be happy to accept a cookie that allows you to log in to a website, but want to reject ones which are used to build a profile of how you use the internet.

 

You should also be able to set your browser to prompt you each time a cookie is offered.

 

Visit the Information Commissioner’s Office website to find out how to control or delete cookies.

 

The table below explains the cookies we use and why.

 

Name                        What it does                            When it expires

MoodleSession      This is an essential session cookie       When you log out or close

                               which provides continuity and allows    the browser this cookie is

                               you to remain logged in when               destroyed (in your

                               browsing  the site.                                 browser and on the                                                                                                          server)

                                                                                                                

           

MOODLEID           This cookie is for convenience as it      It is safe to refuse this  

                                   remembers your username in the         cookie, you will just have

                                 browser, This means when you            to retype your username

                                 return to this site the username field     each time you log in.      

                                 on the login page is already filled in

                                 for you

 

Last revised April 2023