What type of cookies remain stored on a device's hard drive even after a computer is restarted?

Authentication cookies are designed to remain stored on a device's hard drive even after a computer is restarted. Their primary function is to preserve a user’s logged-in status, allowing for a smoother experience without requiring repeated logins. This persistence is crucial for maintaining user sessions over time, especially on websites where users expect to remain logged in across visits.

In contrast, session cookies are temporary and are deleted when the browser is closed, making them unsuitable for long-term storage. Tracking cookies, while also capable of being persistent, are primarily used for monitoring user behavior across different sites rather than for maintaining session integrity. Performance cookies help analyze user interaction with a website, but their primary goal isn't prolonged storage beyond the session. Thus, authentication cookies are specifically intended for ongoing user sessions, which distinguishes them from the other types mentioned.