Session variables, Application variables And Cookies

Session Variables
     Session variables are used to store information about ONE single user, and are available to all pages in one application. Typically information stored in session variables are name, id, and preferences.

Application Variables
    Application variables are also available to all pages in one application. Application variables are used to store information about ALL users in one specific application.

Cookies

   A cookie is often used to identify a user. A cookie is a small file that the server embeds on the user's computer. Each time the same computer requests a page with a browser, it will send the cookie too. With ASP, you can both create and retrieve cookie values.

  

The "Response.Cookies" command is used to create cookies.

<%

Response.Cookies("firstname")="Alex"

%>

It is also possible to assign properties to a cookie, like setting a date when the cookie should expire:

<%Response.Cookies("firstname")="Alex"

Response.Cookies("firstname").Expires=#May 10,2012#

%>

How to Retrieve a Cookie Value?

The "Request.Cookies" command is used to retrieve a cookie value.

In the example below, we retrieve the value of the cookie named "firstname" and display it on a page:

<%

fname=Request.Cookies("firstname")

response.write("Firstname=" & fname)

%>

Output: Firstname=Alex