A cookie is a small file that holds a small amount of data about a specific user, and is stored on that user's computer. For example, if you're making a purchase and enter your contact details, that information will be stored in a cookie while you're completing the purchase.
What cookies does my site drop?
WordPress sites use cookies for logged-in users, to identify that they are logged in; this tends to be the only cookie set directly by your site.
If your site is a membership site or contains a store, these areas of the site will also be using cookies to help users log in or make a purchase.
Third-party cookies
Third-party services also set cookies from your site, and these will vary depending on the plugins you have installed. Cookies can be created and set by plugins, so be sure to check if that's the case when installing a new plugin on your site.
It's difficult to see exactly what cookies your site is setting. We can check any given page, but there's a possibility that a plugin is only being used on certain pages -- not necessarily the ones we check. As a general guide, though, some services that we often see setting cookies are:
- Google Analytics
- Google
- Ad networks
We don’t have access to information about the exact function of the cookies that these services are setting; we recommend you get in touch with the third parties directly to ask if you want more information.
Why does this matter?
Depending on where you live, you may need to know about cookie usage for legal reasons. Data protection laws in some parts of the world are becoming more aggressive when it comes to cookies; it might be worth seeking local advice if you're concerned about that.
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