A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers downloaded on to your computer when you access certain websites. Like virtual door keys, cookies unlock a computer's memory and allow a website to recognise users when they return to a site by opening doors to different content or services. Like a key, a cookie itself does not contain information, but when it is read by a browser it can help a website improve the service delivered.

Cookies we use

Google Analytics

Essential Cookies

'_ga', '_gali', '_gat', '_gid'

Purpose

Google Analytics is a simple, easy-to-use tool that helps website owners measure how users interact with website content. As a user navigates between web pages, Google Analytics provides website owners JavaScript tags (libraries) to record information about the page a user has seen, for example the URL of the page. The Google Analytics JavaScript libraries use HTTP Cookies to "remember" what a user has done on previous pages/interactions with the website.

WordPress

Essential Cookies

'wordpress_[hash]', 'wordpress_logged_in_[hash]', 'wordpress_test_cookie', 'wp-settings-{time}-[UID]'

Purpose

These are the cookies that activate in the admin area of the website.

WordPress uses the cookie wordpress_[hash] to store of the authenticated login details. The authentication details include the username and double hashed copy of the password to maximise the security. The usage of this cookie is limited to the admin console area, behind th authenticated login interface.

The cookie wordpress_logged_in_[hash] is used to indicate when you are logged in. It also assigns who you are based on your browser session. This cookie is active on the front-end of the website as well as for logged-in users.

A [hash] is used to secure data by using a specific mathematical formula applied to the username and password. This cookies ensures data is safe as it is very difficult to un-hash the data.

The value represented by [UID] is the individual user ID of the user as given to them in the users' database table. The cookie wp-settings-{time}-[UID] is used to customize the view of your admin interface and the front-end of the website.

WordPress sets a cookie named wordpress_test_cookie to check is cookies are enabled on the browser. This cookie allows for a better front-end user experience, even if the user is not logged in.