How To Test Persistent Cookies? - PHP Script Tips - Understanding and Managing Cookies

If you want to test persistent cookies, you can copy the following PHP script, setting_persistent_cookies.php, to your Web server:

<?php
  setcookie("LoginName","FYICenter");
  setcookie("PreferredColor","Blue");
  setcookie("CouponNumber","07470433",time()+60*60*24*7);
  setcookie("CouponValue","100.00",time()+60*60*24*7);
 
  print("<pre>\n");
  print("2 temporary cookies were delivered.\n");
  print("2 consistent cookies were delivered.\n");

  if (isset($_COOKIE["LoginName"])) {
    $loginName = $_COOKIE["LoginName"];
    print("Received a cookie named as LoginName: ".$loginName."\n");
  } else {
    print("Did not received any cookie named as LoginName.\n");
  }
 
  $count = count($_COOKIE);
  print("$count cookies received.\n");
  foreach ($_COOKIE as $name => $value) {
     print "  $name = $value\n";
  }
  print("</pre>\n");
?>

Open your browser to visit this page: http://localhost/setting_persistent_cookies.php. You will see:

2 temporary cookies were delivered.
2 consistent cookies were delivered.
Did not received any cookie named as LoginName.
0 cookies received.

Click the refresh button, you will see:

2 temporary cookies were delivered.
2 consistent cookies were delivered.
Received a cookie named as LoginName: FYICenter
4 cookies received.
  LoginName = FYICenter
  PreferredColor = Blue
  CouponNumber = 07470433
  CouponValue = 100.00

Close your browser and open it again to the same page. You will see:

2 temporary cookies were delivered.
2 consistent cookies were delivered.
Did not received any cookie named as LoginName.
2 cookies received.
  CouponNumber = 07470433
  CouponValue = 100.00

This proves that "CouponNumber" and CouponValue" persisted outside the browser.