1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. Similar technologies include local storage, session storage, and pixels. UK law (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations — PECR) requires consent for non-essential cookies.
2. How we use cookies
| Name / type | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk session cookies (__session, __client, etc.) | Keep you signed in, MFA, security | Session / up to 1 year | Strictly necessary |
| chessting:admin-secret (sessionStorage) | Optional owner analytics dashboard on your device only | Browser session | Functional (local) |
| Local storage (usage counters, prefs) | Offline quota on static deploy; UI preferences | Until cleared | Functional |
| First-party analytics (hosted app) | Anonymous page/feature stats — owner dashboard only; paused when DNT or Settings opt-out is on | Session / aggregated | Functional — no ad-tech; Settings → Product analytics |
We do not use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Hotjar, or similar third-party marketing trackers.
3. Strictly necessary cookies
Essential cookies are required for authentication and security. Under PECR, we do not need consent for cookies that are strictly necessary to provide a service you request (e.g. staying logged in). You can block them in browser settings, but sign-in will not work.
4. Functional storage
Local storage holds analysis preferences, extension handoff tokens, and offline usage counters on GitHub Pages. This stays on your device unless you sync by signing in on the hosted app.
5. Third-party cookies
When you pay via Stripe Checkout, Stripe may set cookies on its domain under Stripe's own cookie policy. Clerk authentication may use cookies on Clerk's infrastructure. We do not control third-party cookies — review their policies:
6. Managing cookies
- Use browser settings to block or delete cookies (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge help pages).
- Clear site data for chessting.app to reset local storage.
- Pause first-party product analytics under Settings → Product analytics (also respects Do Not Track). This stops new sends from your browser; it does not delete anonymous server aggregates.
- Sign out to end Clerk session cookies.
Blocking all cookies may break sign-in, billing, and community features on the hosted app.
7. Changes
We will update this policy if we add advertising or third-party tracking cookies. Check the "Last updated" date and the changelog.