Delete or reset a browser cookie via Javascript

Question

HTML links:

<a href="javascript:del_cookie(name);">Logout</a>
<a href="javascript:delete_cookie(rememberKeepMeLoggedIn);">Logout</a>
<a href="javascript:eraseCookie(name);">Logout</a>

<a href="#" onclick="del_cookie(name);">Logout</a>
<a href="#" onclick="delete_cookie(rememberKeepMeLoggedIn);">Logout</a>
<a href="#" onclick="eraseCookie(name);">Logout</a>

Javascript:

function delete_cookie(rememberKeepMeLoggedIn) {
var cookie_date = new Date ( );
cookie_date.setTime ( cookie_date.getTime() - 1 );
document.cookie = rememberKeepMeLoggedIn += "=; expires=" + cookie_date.toGMTString();
}

function del_cookie(name) { document.cookie = 'acceptsCookies=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT;';
window.location = "http://www.smugmug.com/logout.mg?goTo=#"
}

function eraseCookie(name) { var cookies = document.cookie.split(";");
for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++)
eraseCookies(cookies[i].split("=")[0]);
}

How can I delete or reset a cookie with the name "UP-759283"?
Does the syntax below look good?

Here's my javascript function:

function del_cookie() {
document.cookie = UP-759283 +'=; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT;';
}

The HTML URL callout
<a href="javascript:del_cookie(); document.location.reload( );">Logout</a>

Matt Ball · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-12 15:58:51Z

3

Does the syntax below look good?

No; just run your code through JSLint and you'll see. Change

document.cookie = UP-759283 +'=; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT;';

to

document.cookie = 'UP-759283=; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT;';

As per the MDC document.cookie docs, cookies are deleted by setting the expiration time to zero:

document.cookie = 'UP-759283=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT;';

Other reference: cookies @ quirksmode .

edited Apr 12, 2011 at 15:58

answered Apr 12, 2011 at 15:50

Matt Ball

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7 Comments

Raynos Over a year ago

useless string concatenation is useless. Also what if the local machine time is set to 1965 ?

Matt Ball Over a year ago

@Raynos: set your machine time to 1965 and try it yourself. On Windows 7, I can't set the system clock earlier than January 1st, 1980.

Raynos Over a year ago

@MattBall I have to learn how cookies work >_>. I assume your answer will work though. So much code would break if you set your system clock to 1965 anyway.

detonate Over a year ago

No luck so far guys... any other suggestions?

Matt Ball Over a year ago

@detonate: what's the problem? Did you see the demo? jsfiddle.net/mattball/mJLZj

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