mysql query -vs- cookie

[ncsunderland]

After the initial load - which will require a query regardless - is it faster on subsequent page loads to pull cookie data, or just re-run the same query at the top of each page - or is it about the same?

Thanks in advance

[Nancy OShea]

For log-ins, I always set session variables.  

Cookies are client-side. Not so good if JS or Cookies are disabled.

Nancy O.

[Rob_Hecker2]

Pulling a cookie from the users computer to the server would be significantly slower than a mysql query, assuming the query is very simple and the table isn't huge.

But you could store cookies and session data on the server. Maybe your question requires more explanation.

[Guest]

For log-ins, I always set session variables.  

Cookies are client-side. Not so good if JS or Cookies are disabled.

By default, php session variables use a cookie to store the session ID. So even if you're using session variables and you haven't explicitly told your server NOT to use session cookies (which will instead use a GET parameter to retrieve session data = not as secure as using default cookie for session id) then it's still not so good if cookies are disabled.

More info at Do PHP sessions set any cookies? - Stack Overflow

best,

Shocker