5 Top JavaScript Cookie Libraries for Modern Web Development

Cookies remain a cornerstone of web development, enabling everything from user sessions and personalization to analytics and authentication. While modern alternatives like tokens and localStorage have their place, cookies are still widely used due to their simplicity, browser compatibility, and server-client synchronization capabilities. However, managing cookies manually in JavaScript can be error-prone and tedious. This is where specialized cookie libraries shine—they abstract away complexity, enhance security, and streamline implementation.

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1. js-cookie: The Lightweight Champion

GitHub Stars: 21k+

Weekly Downloads: 4.5 million

Overview

js-cookie is the gold standard for cookie management in JavaScript. With a minimalistic API and zero dependencies, it simplifies reading, writing, and deleting cookies while adhering to security best practices.

Key Features

• Supports ES modules, AMD, and CommonJS.
• Automatic encoding/decoding of cookie values.
• Chainable methods for concise code.
• Built-in support for JSON objects.

Installation

npm install js-cookie  

Usage Examples

// Set a cookie  
Cookies.set('user', 'Alice', { expires: 7, secure: true });  

// Read a cookie  
const user = Cookies.get('user'); // "Alice"  

// Delete a cookie  
Cookies.remove('user');  

// Store JSON  
Cookies.set('preferences', { theme: 'dark', notifications: true });  
const prefs = Cookies.getJSON('preferences'); // { theme: 'dark', ... }  

Pros

• Tiny footprint (under 2 KB).
• Robust browser and server (Node.js) support.
• Intuitive syntax.

Cons

• Lacks built-in support for cookie consent management.

Ideal For

• Projects needing a simple, reliable cookie utility.
• SPAs and static sites.

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2. universal-cookie: React-Friendly Powerhouse

GitHub Stars: 2.3k+

Weekly Downloads: 1.2 million

Overview

universal-cookie is designed for universal (isomorphic) JavaScript apps, seamlessly working in both browser and Node.js environments. It’s particularly popular in React ecosystems, with integrations like react-cookie for state management.

Key Features

• Unified API for client and server.
• React Hooks support.
• TypeScript compatibility.

Installation

npm install universal-cookie  

Usage with React

import { useCookies } from 'react-cookie';  

function App() {  
  const [cookies, setCookie] = useCookies(['user']);  

  const login = () => {  
    setCookie('user', 'Bob', { path: '/', maxAge: 3600 });  
  };  

  return <div>User: {cookies.user}</div>;  
}  

Pros

• Excellent for server-side rendering (Next.js, Nuxt.js).
• Integrates with React context and state.

Cons

• Slightly larger bundle size than js-cookie.

Ideal For

• Universal apps and React-based projects.

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3. cookie.js: The Minimalist’s Choice

GitHub Stars: 1.8k+

Weekly Downloads: 500k+

Overview

cookie.js prioritizes simplicity with a dead-simple API. It’s perfect for developers who want cookie management without frills.

Key Features

• No dependencies.
• Supports namespacing to avoid conflicts.
• Optional JSON support.

Installation

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cookie.js@1.0/dist/cookie.min.js"></script>  

Usage Examples

// Set a cookie  
cookie.set('lang', 'en', { domain: 'example.com', expires: 365 });  

// Read all cookies  
const allCookies = cookie.all();  

// Delete with options  
cookie.remove('lang', { domain: 'example.com' });  

Pros

• Extremely lightweight (1.3 KB).
• CDN-friendly for quick prototyping.

Cons

• Limited advanced features.

Ideal For

• Small projects and static websites.

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4. Vue Cookies: For Vue.js Developers

GitHub Stars: 1.2k+

Weekly Downloads: 300k+

Overview

vue-cookies is tailored for Vue.js applications, offering reactive cookie management that syncs with Vue’s component lifecycle.

Key Features

• Vue 2/3 compatibility.
• Reactive cookie bindings.
• TypeScript support.

Installation

npm install vue-cookies  

Usage in Vue Components

import VueCookies from 'vue-cookies';  

export default {  
  mounted() {  
    this.$cookies.set('cart', [{ id: 1, quantity: 2 }], '1d');  
  },  
  computed: {  
    cartItems() {  
      return this.$cookies.get('cart') || [];  
    },  
  },  
};  

Pros

• Native Vue integration.
• Supports expiration times in human-readable formats (e.g., '1d', '2h').

Cons

• Less useful outside Vue ecosystems.

Ideal For

• Vue.js SPAs and enterprise dashboards.

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5. tough-cookie: The Server-Side Specialist

GitHub Stars: 1.1k+

Weekly Downloads: 15 million

Overview

tough-cookie is a robust Node.js library for parsing, storing, and managing cookies in server-side applications. It’s used internally by libraries like request and axios for cookie handling.

Key Features

• RFC 6265-compliant parsing.
• Cookie jar management for multiple domains.
• Simulates browser-like cookie behavior.

Installation

npm install tough-cookie  

Usage with Axios

const { CookieJar } = require('tough-cookie');  
const axios = require('axios').default;  
const jar = new CookieJar();  

// Make a request and store cookies  
axios.get('https://api.example.com/login', { jar })  
  .then(() => {  
    // Subsequent requests automatically include cookies  
    return axios.get('https://api.example.com/profile', { jar });  
  });  

Pros

• Enterprise-grade reliability.
• Ideal for web scrapers and API clients.

Cons

• Overkill for simple browser apps.

Ideal For

• Node.js backends and automation scripts.

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Comparison Table

Library	Size	Browser	Node.js	Framework Integration
js-cookie	2 KB	✅	✅	None
universal-cookie	5 KB	✅	✅	React, Next.js
cookie.js	1.3 KB	✅	❌	None
vue-cookies	3 KB	✅	❌	Vue 2/3
tough-cookie	15 KB	❌	✅	Axios, Request

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Security Best Practices

Regardless of your library choice, follow these guidelines:

1. Use Secure and HttpOnly Flags: Prevent XSS and MITM attacks.
2. Set SameSite=Strict: Mitigate CSRF risks.
3. Rotate Keys: For signed cookies, change secrets periodically.
4. Validate Inputs: Sanitize cookie data to avoid injection attacks.

For advanced strategies, including encryption and token-cookie hybrids, click here to access a comprehensive security framework guide.

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Conclusion

Choosing the right cookie library depends on your project’s scope:

• SPAs and Lightweight Apps: js-cookie or cookie.js.
• React/Next.js: universal-cookie.
• Vue.js: vue-cookies.
• Node.js Backends: tough-cookie.

While cookies are often overshadowed by newer technologies, they remain indispensable for session management and compatibility. By leveraging these libraries, you can ensure clean, secure, and maintainable code.

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Final Note: Always audit third-party libraries for vulnerabilities using tools like npm audit or Snyk. The link provided offers vetted solutions, but ensure compatibility with your tech stack before implementation.