Can I modify or add cookies from JavaScript? [closed]

Question

Exactly what are the restrictions for handling browser cookies from javascript? Can I check if cookies are enabled for example?

Answer 1

Yes! Read this excellent article about using cookies with JavaScript

Here's an excerpted code example.

function createCookie(name,value,days) {
    if (days) {
        var date = new Date();
        date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
        var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
    }
    else var expires = "";
    document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
}

function readCookie(name) {
    var nameEQ = name + "=";
    var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
    for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++) {
        var c = ca[i];
        while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
        if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
    }
    return null;
}

function eraseCookie(name) {
    createCookie(name,"",-1);
}

And as for testing whether they are enabled. I like jldupont's answer.

Answer 2

You write a cookie and try to read back: this way, you'll know if cookies are enabled.