History, cookies, and cache are not the same thing
History is simply a record of pages you visited, cookies store login sessions and site preferences, and cache is temporary files saved to make pages load faster. Because each serves a different purpose, most browsers let you choose exactly which of the three to delete.
Using a shared or public computer
On a computer other people also use, such as at a library or workplace, clearing your history afterward β or browsing in a private window from the start β helps keep your activity from being visible to the next person who sits down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing my history log me out of websites?
Clearing cookies will usually sign you out of sites, since login sessions are often stored in cookies. Clearing history alone typically does not log you out.
Does clearing history free up much storage?
History itself takes up very little space. Cache tends to be much larger, so clearing cache is usually what frees up the most storage.