How Websites Remember You Using Stored Data
Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation.
Original patent title: “Persistent client state in a hypertext transfer protocol based client-server system”
Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation. Granted to Netscape Communications Corp in 1998 with 31 claims and 508 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way for websites to remember information about you between visits. When your web browser (the client) asks for a webpage from a website (the server), the server can send back not just the page, but also a small data package called a 'state object.' This object contains specific details, like your preferences or a unique identifier. Your browser then stores this object. Later, when you visit the same website again, your browser sends this stored 'state object' back to the server with your request. This allows the website to recognize you or recall your settings, making your experience more personalized and efficient. For example, it could remember that you've already logged in or that you prefer a certain layout.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods where the website doesn't send any data to be stored on the client.
- Does not cover methods where the client doesn't store the received data.
- Does not cover methods where the client doesn't send the stored data back to the server on subsequent requests.
- Does not cover state objects that lack specific attributes like domain or expiration.
- Does not cover scenarios where the state object is not transmitted back to the server only when the server is within a defined domain.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation was recognizing that the stateless nature of HTTP (where each request is independent) was a limitation for creating interactive web experiences, and devising a simple, standardized way for servers to inject persistent 'state' into the client that could be recalled later.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Website cookies
Session management
Personalized website content
E-commerce shopping carts
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational to how the modern internet functions. It describes the core mechanism behind 'cookies,' which are essential for everything from remembering your shopping cart items to keeping you logged into websites. Without this technology, every single page load would be like visiting a website for the very first time.
Filed
October 6, 1995
Granted
June 30, 1998
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The fundamental principles described in this patent are implemented across virtually all web browsers and web servers today. Major browser developers like Google (Chrome), Apple (Safari), Mozilla (Firefox), and Microsoft (Edge) all build systems that adhere to these concepts. Similarly, web server technologies from Apache to Nginx and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure facilitate this data transfer.
Market impact
This patent, and the technology it describes (commonly known as HTTP cookies), revolutionized the web by enabling persistent user sessions and personalization. It moved the web from a collection of static documents to a dynamic platform capable of rich, interactive applications, directly enabling the growth of e-commerce and online services.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way for websites to remember information about you between visits. When your web browser (the client) asks for a webpage from a website (the server), the server can send back not just the page, but also a small data package called a 'state object.' This object contains specific details, like your preferences or a unique identifier. Your browser then stores this object. Later, when you visit the same website again, your browser sends this stored 'state object' back to the server with your request. This allows the website to recognize you or recall your settings, making your experience more personalized and efficient. For example, it could remember that you've already logged in or that you prefer a certain layout.
The clever bit
The innovation was recognizing that the stateless nature of HTTP (where each request is independent) was a limitation for creating interactive web experiences, and devising a simple, standardized way for servers to inject persistent 'state' into the client that could be recalled later.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods where the website doesn't send any data to be stored on the client.
- Does not cover methods where the client doesn't store the received data.
- Does not cover methods where the client doesn't send the stored data back to the server on subsequent requests.
- Does not cover state objects that lack specific attributes like domain or expiration.
- Does not cover scenarios where the state object is not transmitted back to the server only when the server is within a defined domain.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$115K – $369K
Midpoint $230K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
31 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Montulli, L. (1998). How Websites Remember You Using Stored Data (U.S. Patent No. 5,774,670). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774670/http-cookie-browser-state
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Websites Remember You Using Stored Data cover?
Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation.
Who owns patent US 5774670?
Netscape Communications Corp owns this patent, granted in 1998.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5774670 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 508 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational to how the modern internet functions. It describes the core mechanism behind 'cookies,' which are essential for everything from remembering your shopping cart items to keeping you logged into websites. Without this technology, every single page load would be like visiting a website for the very first time.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods where the website doesn't send any data to be stored on the client.
Same assignee
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