Cookies... and variables

[DoD]

How can i contain variables in my cookies and then read them? and check the results with a database? such as having an ID number in the cookie and a random number made on registration...

also how would i make a random number?

[raymie]

Why cookies and not sessions. Remember that a lot of people will not allow cookies on their systems.

random value

$uidval = md5(uniqid(rand(),1));

And storing it as a cookie valid for 60 seconds

setcookie("uidval", $uidval,time() + 60); 

Cookies can not remain valid forever, a duraction of zero means only that it lasts until the browser closes. If you want the cookie to last for a while just give it a big number in addition to the current time.