# 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. - **Patent:** US 5774670 - **Original title:** Persistent client state in a hypertext transfer protocol based client-server system - **Owner:** Netscape Communications Corp - **Granted:** 1998 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 508 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications, ecommerce ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Website cookies 2. Session management 3. Personalized website content 4. E-commerce shopping carts ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774670/http-cookie-browser-state **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US5774670 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Netscape Created the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) for Web Security](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5657390/secure-socket-layer-application-program-apparatus-and-method) — Netscape's 1995 patent defining the architecture for SSL, the foundational technology that allows browsers to securely transmit encrypted data over the internet. - [How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8112476/amazon-ec2-elastic-compute-cloud) — A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly. - [How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5960411/amazon-one-click) — Amazon's 1999 patent describes how a customer can buy an item online with just one click, bypassing a traditional shopping cart by using pre-stored payment and shipping information. - [How Servers Combine Global and Local Content for Personalized Web Displays](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6122658/custom-localized-information-in-a-networked-server-for-display-to-an-end-user) — A 1997 Microsoft patent describing how a server can mix general content with specific local details to create a personalized experience for users based on their location or demographics. - [How to Keep Apps Running Without a Constant Internet Connection](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7543038/arrangement-and-method-for-impermanent-connectivity) — IBM's method for letting apps think they are connected to a server even when the internet is offline by using a proxy that stores requests and fakes responses.