Cookie Categories Explained: Necessary vs Analytics vs Marketing

Understanding cookie categories is the foundation of cookie compliance. Here's everything you need to know.

The 4 Cookie Categories

1. Necessary (Strictly Necessary) These cookies are essential for the website to function. They cannot be disabled. - Examples: Session cookies, CSRF tokens, authentication cookies - Requires consent? No

2. Analytics These cookies collect information about how visitors use your website. - Examples: Google Analytics (_ga), Hotjar, Mixpanel - Requires consent? Yes (GDPR), Yes (DPDPA)

3. Marketing These cookies track visitors across websites to show relevant ads. - Examples: Facebook Pixel (_fbp), Google Ads, LinkedIn Insight Tag - Requires consent? Yes (required)

4. Preferences These cookies remember user preferences and settings. - Examples: Language preference, theme selection, font size - Requires consent? Yes under strict interpretations

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