cookie

1. protocol A handle, transaction ID, or other token of

agreement between cooperating programs. "I give him a packet,

he gives me back a cookie".

The claim check you get from a dry-cleaning shop is a perfect

mundane example of a cookie; the only thing it's useful for is

to relate a later transaction to this one (so you get the same

clothes back).

Another example is an HTTP cookie.

Compare magic cookie; see also fortune cookie.

2. security, jargon A cracker term for the password list

on a multi-user computer.

3. jargon An adjective describing a computer that just

became toast.

(1997-04-14)