Difference Between Cache and Cookies

Both Cache and Cookies store the data from the website on a visitor's local device. But both of them stores different type of information.

The main difference between Cache and Cookie is that, Cache is used to store online page resources during a browser for the long run purpose or to decrease the loading time. On the other hand, cookies are employed to store user choices such as browsing session to trace the user preferences.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small files that contain information useful to a web site - such as password, preferences, browser, IP Address, date and time of visit, etc. Every time the user loads the website, the browser sends the cookie back to the server to notify the website of the user's previous activity.

What are Caches?

A web cache (or HTTP cache) is an information technology for the temporary storage (caching) of web documents, such as HTML pages and images, to reduce bandwidth usage, server load, and perceived lag. Cache is just a collection of data downloaded to help display a web page.

S.NO	Cache	Cookies
Duration	Cache is employed to store the web site content for the long run purpose.	While cookie is employed to store user choices.
Storage	Cache's website contents are stored in browser only.	While cookie’s contents are stored in both server and browser.
Expiration	It expires manually.	While it expires automatically.
Storage space	It consumes large space in terms of capacity.	While it consumes less space in terms of capacity.
Types	the types of cache are: Browser cache and proxy cache.	While the types of cookies are: Transient and persistent cookies.
Types of content store	Cache stores the contents like html pages, images, Javascript, CSS etc.	While cookie store the contents like browsing sessions and temporary tracking data.
Send Request	Cache does not send the response with requests.	While cookie sends the response with requests.
Storage Location	The content of website is stored in browser.	The content of the cookie is stored in both server and browser..