Which of the following describes cookies in web browsing?

Cookies are small pieces of data that a web browser stores on a user's computer to remember information about the user as they navigate various websites. This information may include user preferences, login credentials, session information, or tracking data that allows websites to provide personalized experiences. Cookies enhance user experience by enabling users to access their preferred settings and keeping them logged into their accounts across sessions.

While temporary files and encrypted messages may relate to web browsing in other contexts, they do not accurately describe what cookies are. Temporary files are usually system-level files used for various operating system operations rather than user preferences or behaviors tracked by websites. Encrypted messages can be a part of secure communications but do not correlate specifically to the function of cookies. Executable files, on the other hand, are programs that could harm a system if downloaded improperly and are not related to the concept of cookies as they are purely about storing data for web experiences.