RealComposer
Security & Reliability

SameSite Cookies

Direct Definition

The SameSite cookie attribute controls whether browsers send cookies on cross-site requests. Strict limits cookies to same-site navigations, Lax allows top-level GET navigations, and None requires Secure and enables third-party contexts when explicitly needed.

Technical Architecture & Deep-Dive

Modern browsers default new cookies to Lax, which blocks many CSRF POSTs without breaking normal links. Embedded widgets, payment iframes, or cross-site OAuth returns may need None; Secure with tight Origin validation.

When your API sits on api.example.com and the SPA on app.example.com, treat them as same-site if they share a registrable domain and use correct cookie Domain paths. Cross-domain SaaS embeds need explicit threat modeling before choosing None.

Key Architectural Benefits

Reduces classic CSRF against cookie-backed sessions.
Clearer policy than ad hoc Referer checks alone.
Composable with HttpOnly and Secure on BFF-issued cookies.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Does SameSite replace CORS configuration?

No. SameSite governs cookies. CORS governs whether JavaScript may read cross-origin responses. You need both for browser-heavy APIs.

Related Architecture Concepts

Ready-to-Use Edge Recipes