What is the _hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress cookie?
_hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress is a first-party cookie (technically written under the visited site's domain) used by Hotjar, an analytics service owned by Contentsquare. It appears on a site as soon as the Hotjar script loads and begins tracking the visit, typically on the user's first interaction with the page.
It is one of several „_hj”-prefixed cookies Hotjar uses to establish session boundaries, i.e. to decide when a sequence of actions from the same visitor should be treated as one continuous session versus the start of a new one.
What data it stores
The cookie does not store directly identifiable personal data; instead it holds a technical flag (typically a numeric or boolean indicator) marking whether a browsing session is currently „in progress”. The exact value format can vary and is not documented in detail by Hotjar publicly.
This information is read by the Hotjar script loaded on the page and sent to Hotjar/Contentsquare's servers, where it is linked with other session data such as pages viewed, clicks, mouse movement, and session recordings, if enabled on the account.
What it is used for
Its main purpose is technical and statistical: it helps Hotjar determine whether a visitor is already within an active session or whether a new session should start, preventing sessions from being miscounted and traffic reports from being skewed.
For the site owner, this cookie indirectly contributes to the accuracy of heatmaps, session recordings, and behavior analytics provided by Hotjar, which are used to understand how users interact with pages.
Does it require consent?
Under CookieFix's classification, this cookie falls into the „statistics” (analytics) category. It is not strictly necessary for the site to function, so under the ePrivacy Directive (transposed in Romania via Law 506/2004) and GDPR, it may only be set after the visitor has given explicit consent.
Site owners must declare this cookie in their cookie policy, list it under the statistics category in the consent banner, and ensure the Hotjar script does not run before the visitor's consent is obtained.
How to block or delete _hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress
A visitor can delete or block this cookie via browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all offer per-site cookie management) or use the opt-out mechanism Hotjar provides in its privacy policy.
For site owners, the practical solution is using a consent management platform (CMP) such as CookieFix, which automatically blocks the Hotjar script from loading until the visitor accepts the „statistics” category, preventing the cookie from being set without prior consent.
Frequently asked questions
It's a technical cookie used by Hotjar to determine whether a visit belongs to an already-started browsing session or whether a new one needs to begin.
It has a typical lifespan of 30 minutes, matching the standard time window Hotjar uses to define a session.
Yes, since it's classified as a statistics cookie, it requires prior consent under GDPR and ePrivacy, so it cannot be set before the relevant category is accepted in the banner.
You can delete cookies from your browser settings or decline the „statistics” category in the site's consent banner, if the site uses a compliant CMP.