Legal

Cookie Policy

How we use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience.

Last Updated: June 4, 2026

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences, authenticate your identity, analyze site usage, and improve your overall experience.

Cookies can be "session cookies" (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them).

2. Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies (Required)

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled without breaking core functionality:

Cookie Name Purpose Duration
PHPSESSID Session management and authentication - keeps you logged in as you navigate the site Session (deleted when browser closes)
csrf_token Security - prevents cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks on forms and actions Session

2.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies remember your preferences and choices to enhance your experience:

Cookie Name Purpose Duration
token Persistent login ("Remember Me" feature) - keeps you logged in across browser sessions 90 days
notracking Respects your "do not track" preference - disables analytics when enabled Session

2.3 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our site, identify errors, and improve performance:

Service Purpose Privacy Info
Middleware.io RUM Real User Monitoring - measures page load times, JavaScript errors, and overall performance to help us optimize the site Middleware Privacy Policy

2.4 Third-Party Cookies

Some features may set cookies from third-party services we use:

  • Cloudflare: CDN and security services - protects against DDoS attacks and improves site speed
  • Gravatar: Avatar service (only if you use Gravatar avatars) - displays your profile picture across sites

These third-party services have their own privacy policies and cookie practices. We recommend reviewing them:

3. Managing Cookies

3.1 Browser Controls

Most modern browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You can:

  • View which cookies are stored
  • Delete existing cookies
  • Block all cookies (not recommended)
  • Block third-party cookies only
  • Clear cookies when you close your browser

Browser-specific instructions:

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
  • Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
  • Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies

3.2 Opt-Out Options

You can disable analytics cookies while maintaining core functionality:

  • URL Parameter: Add ?notracking=1 to any URL to disable analytics for that session
  • Browser Do Not Track: Enable DNT in your browser settings - we respect this signal
  • Third-Party Cookies: Block third-party cookies in your browser to disable external tracking

Important Note: Disabling essential cookies (PHPSESSID, csrf_token) will prevent you from logging in and using core features like submitting content, commenting, and upvoting.

4. Do Not Track (DNT)

We respect browser "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. When DNT is enabled in your browser:

  • We disable analytics cookies (Middleware.io RUM)
  • We maintain essential functionality cookies for security and authentication
  • We do not collect usage analytics or behavioral data

To enable DNT, check your browser's privacy settings. Note that DNT is not universally supported by all websites.

5. Cookie Data Storage

Cookie data is stored:

  • Locally: On your device in your browser's storage
  • Server-side: Session data is stored on our servers temporarily
  • Third-party: Analytics data is processed by Middleware.io (see their privacy policy)

We implement security measures to protect cookie data, including HTTPS encryption for all cookie transmission.

6. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in:

  • Our cookie practices
  • The technologies we use
  • Legal or regulatory requirements
  • Third-party service changes

Check this page periodically for updates. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when the policy was last modified.

7. Contact Us

Questions about our use of cookies or this policy?

We aim to respond to all cookie-related inquiries within 30 days.