cookies

Achieving clean URLs by using cookies

[smallcompany]

Right now we carry variables through the site by applying them to URLs. We want to switch to clean URLs while keep tracking. My narrow knowledge tells me that using cookies is a way to go. Hosting is Linux based.

From browser compliance perspective, what do you have the best experience with? Is JavaScript a definite way to go, or PHP is to be considered as well? Anything else?

Our sites are static HTML or PHP. Database driven site(s) may come into the picture later.

Thank you

[Brett_Tabke]

Java script has significant compatibility issues across platforms and browsers. You won't know if your users will be on a phone, using windows mobile, symbian OS, Apple or on a desktop, using Mozilla, Opera, or IE. There are a myriad of compatibility issues that will crop up in an ecommerce situation using javascript.

For example, a major computer manufacturer is currently using cookies to track a shopping cart. That is fine, but the very last step in the payment process, reads and sets a cookie via javascript. The js was incompat with Opera and FireFox. I pitched a fit to them, and they said I was the first (in two years) to take the time to report it to them. The only reason I did, was because I know a couple of the web developers over there. Think about it - a multibillion dollar a year company with deep web and tech resources can't get a simple shopping cart right? How are you and I suppose to get it right? The only method that works, is KISS - kiss it simple stupid.

PHP or other server side language serving simple cookies is the way to go. If you have the tech, you can just use a simple tracking code in the cookie, and the full session id/shopping cart on the server.

[smallcompany]

Thanks very much. No tech but will find him. Knowing what to focus on is gold.