Django Cookie with persistant information

# Generate a persistant cockie with information
import datetime


def generate_a_cookie(response, key, value, days_expire=7):
    if days_expire is None:
        max_age = 365 * 24 * 60 * 60  # one year
    else:
        max_age = days_expire * 24 * 60 * 60
    expires = datetime.datetime.strftime(
        datetime.datetime.utcnow() +
        datetime.timedelta(
            seconds=max_age),
        "%a, %d-%b-%Y %H:%M:%S GMT")
    response.set_cookie(
        key,
        value,
        max_age=max_age,
        expires=expires,
        domain=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN,
        secure=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE or None)

cockie_value = generate_a_cookie(response, key, value, days_expire=7):

# Setting a cookie in a view:
def view(request):
    response = HttpResponse('blah')
    response.set_cookie('cookie_name', 'cookie_value‘)


# Retrieving a cookie within a view:
def view(request):
    value = request.COOKIES.get('cookie_name')
    if value is None:
        # Cookie is not set
        pass
        # OR
        pass
    try:
        value = request.COOKIES['cookie_name']
    except KeyError:
        # Cookie is not set