Cookies
Our Privacy Policy explains our principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. The Cookie Policy specifically explains how we, our partners, and users of our services deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to ‘remember’ you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a ‘session cookie’) or for multiple repeat visits (using a ‘persistent cookie’). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as ‘first party cookies’), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on the website (‘third party cookies’).
Cookies set by WordPress.org
We use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalised experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action (clicking the ‘like’ or ‘follow’ button on a post, for example).
Below the different categories of cookies set by WordPress.org are outlined, with specific examples detailed in the tables that follow. This includes their name and purpose. Certain cookies are only set for logged-in visitors, whereas others are set for any visitors, and these are marked below accordingly. Where a cookie only applies to specific subdomains, they are included under the relevant header.
Strictly Necessary: These are the cookies that are essential for WordPress.org to perform basic functions. These include those required to allow registered users to authenticate and perform account related functions.
Functionality: These cookies are used to store preferences set by users such as account name, language, and location.
Performance: Performance cookies collect information on how users interact with websites hosted on WordPress.org, including what pages are visited most, as well as other analytical data. These details are only used to improve how the website functions.
Tracking: These are set by trusted third party networks (e.g. Google Analytics) to track details such as the number of unique visitors, and pageviews to help improve the user experience.
Third Party/Embedded Content: WordPress.org makes use of different third party applications and services to enhance the experience of website visitors. These include social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (through the use of sharing buttons), or embedded content from YouTube and Vimeo. As a result, cookies may be set by these third parties, and used by them to track your online activity. We have no direct control over the information that is collected by these cookies.
wordpress.org
| Cookie | Duration | Purpose | Logged-in Users Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| devicePixelRatio | Browser default (1 year) | Used to make the site responsive to the visitor’s screen size. | No |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Session | Tests that the browser accepts cookies. | No |
| __utma | 2 years | Google Analytics - Used to distinguish users and sessions. The cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and no existing __utma cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. | No |
| __utmb | 30 minutes | Google Analytics - Used to determine new sessions/visits. The cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and no existing __utmb cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. | No |
| __utmc | Session | Google Analytics - Set for interoperability with urchin.js. Historically, this cookie operated in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether the user was in a new session/visit. | No |
| __utmt | 10 minutes | Google Analytics - Used to throttle request rate. | No |
| __utmz | 6 months | Google Analytics - Stores the traffic source or campaign that explains how the user reached your site. The cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. | No |
| wp-settings-{user_id} | 1 year | Used to persist a user’s wp-admin configuration. | Yes |
| wporg_logged_in wporg_sec |
14 days if you select “Remember Me” when logging in. Otherwise, Session. | Used to check whether the current visitor is a logged-in WordPress.org user. | Yes |
make.wordpress.org
| Cookie | Duration | Purpose | Logged-in Users Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| welcome-{blog_id} | Permanent | Used to record if you’ve chosen to hide the “Welcome” message at the top of the corresponding blog. | No |
| showComments | 10 years | Used to determine if you prefer comments to be shown or hidden when reading the site. | No |
*.trac.wordpress.org
| Cookie | Duration | Purpose | Logged-in Users Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| trac_form_token | Session | Used as a security token for cross-site request forgery protection. | No |
| trac_session | 90 days | Used to keep anonymous session information. | No |
codex.wordpress.org
| Cookie | Duration | Purpose | Logged-in Users Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| codexToken | 6 months | Used to check whether the current visitor is a logged-in WordPress.org user. Only set if you select “Keep me logged in” when logging in. | Yes |
| codexUserId codexUserName |
6 months | Used to check whether the current visitor is a logged-in WordPress.org user. | Yes |
| codex_session | Session | Used to check whether the current visitor is a logged-in WordPress.org user. | Yes |
*.wordcamp.org
| Cookie | Duration | Purpose | Logged-in Users Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| camptix_client_stats | 1 year | Used to track unique visitors to tickets page on a WordCamp site | No |
| wp-saving-post | 1 day | Used to track if there is saved post exists for a post currently being edited. If exists then let user restore the data | Yes |
| comment_author_{hash} | 347 days | Used to tracked comment author name, if “Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” is checked | No |
| comment_author_email_{hash} | 347 days | Used to tracked comment author email, if “Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” is checked | No |
| comment_author_url_{hash} | 347 days | Used to track comment author url, if “Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” checkbox is checked | No |
| wp-postpass_{hash} | 10 days | Used to maintain session if a post is password protected | No |
| wp-settings-{user} | 1 year | Used to preserve user’s wp-admin settings | Yes |
| wp-settings-time-{user} | 1 year | Time at which wp-settings-{user} was set | Yes |
| tix_view_token | 2 days | Used for session managing private CampTix content | No |
| tk_ai | Browser default | Used for tracking | No |
| jetpackState | Session | Used for maintaining Jetpack State | Yes |
| jpp_math_pass | Session | Verifies that a user answered the maths problem correctly while logging in. | No |
| stnojs | 2 days | Remember if user do not want JavaScript executed | No |
| wordpress_logged_in_{hash} | Session | Remember User session | Yes |
| wordpres_test_cookie | Session | Test if cookie can be set | No |
Controlling Cookies
Visitors may wish to restrict the use of cookies, or completely prevent them from being set. Most browsers provide for ways to control cookie behaviour such as the length of time they are stored — either through built-in functionality or by utilising third party plugins.
To find out more on how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on advertising cookies, and how to manage them, visit youronlinechoices.eu (EU based), or aboutads.info (US based).
Some specific opt-out programs are available here:
Google Analytics - https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
It’s important to note that restricting or disabling the use of cookies can limit the functionality of sites, or prevent them from working correctly at all.
WordPress.org
