What is the _hjIncludedInSessionSample cookie?
_hjIncludedInSessionSample is an HTTP cookie set by Hotjar, a service used to analyze visitor behavior on websites (heatmaps, session recordings, surveys). It is generated automatically by the Hotjar script (hjid) once it loads on a page.
The cookie appears as soon as the Hotjar script runs in the visitor's browser, regardless of whether the site uses heatmaps, session recording, or feedback forms.
What data it stores
The cookie stores a boolean value (true/false) indicating whether the current session was included in the statistical sample Hotjar analyzes. The exact value format may vary depending on the Hotjar script version.
The associated data is sent to Hotjar's servers and used internally to decide whether the visitor's activity (mouse movements, clicks, scrolling) will be recorded in detail for that session.
What it is used for
The purpose of this cookie is purely technical/statistical: Hotjar doesn't analyze every session in detail but selects a sample, to reduce the volume of collected data and preserve site performance. This cookie marks whether the current session was chosen for the sample.
For the site owner, its presence indicates that Hotjar is active and collecting behavioral data about visitors, useful for UX optimization.
Does it require consent?
- Category: statistics (behavioral analytics).
- Requires prior user consent under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (transposed in Romania via Law 506/2004), since it is not strictly necessary for the site to function.
- The site owner must: declare the cookie in the cookie policy, classify it under the "statistics" category, and only allow the Hotjar script to load after the visitor has given explicit consent.
How to block or delete _hjIncludedInSessionSample
A visitor can delete or block this cookie through browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – per-site cookie management), or use script-blocking browser extensions.
For site owners, the Hotjar script should not load at all before consent is given. A consent management platform like CookieFix can automatically block the Hotjar script (and therefore this cookie) until the visitor accepts the "statistics" category, avoiding data collection without a legal basis.
Frequently asked questions
It doesn't contain directly identifiable personal data, but it's part of a behavioral analytics system that requires consent under GDPR.
Because its purpose is tied to the sampling decision for the current session, not long-term visitor tracking.
Yes, any cookie set by Hotjar, including the sampling cookie, should be listed in the site's cookie policy.
No, the cookie is part of Hotjar's internal operating mechanism; blocking it effectively blocks Hotjar's data collection for that session.