Cottaging is anonymous love making in a public place. Whereas dogging is more about voyeurism.

Anonymous sex is a type of one night stand or casual sex between lovers who do not know each other well. They often just meet up to have initmacies and then never see each other again afterwards. This can be a planned or a chance meeting. Casual sex refers to sexual encounters outside of a romantic relationship.

Cottaging is most relevant among gay and bi men than among lesbians or heterosexuals, but the term can apply to the actions of people of both sexes, and all sexual orientations. However, similar public romping by heterosexuals is, in the UK is known as dogging.