What is the cmplz_functional cookie?
cmplz_functional is an HTTP cookie set by Complianz, a widely used consent management platform (CMP), most often deployed on WordPress websites. It is created as soon as a visitor interacts with the cookie banner and chooses to accept the „functional” cookie category.
The cookie is set by the Complianz script running on the visited site's own domain, not by an external third party. Its role is purely administrative: it records a consent choice rather than tracking behavior across the web.
What data it stores
The cookie stores a value indicating whether the visitor has accepted the „functional” cookie category as defined in the Complianz configuration (typically a simple boolean or identifier-type value; the exact format can vary by plugin version). It does not contain personally identifiable information such as name, email, or IP address.
The data stays stored locally in the visitor's browser and is read by the Complianz script on subsequent visits to the same site, so the banner does not need to reopen unnecessarily.
What it is used for
The cookie's purpose is to let the site remember that the visitor has allowed cookies from the „functional” category (for example, cookies that store display preferences, language settings, or other features that are neither strictly essential nor related to marketing or statistics).
In practice, it avoids showing the consent banner repeatedly and keeps the user experience consistent across visits, while respecting the choice previously made.
Does it require consent?
Under CookieFix's classification, cmplz_functional falls under strictly necessary, since it supports the site's own consent mechanism. Strictly necessary cookies do not require prior consent under the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and its Romanian implementation, Law 506/2004, but they must still be disclosed in the site's cookie policy under the GDPR.
- Site owners should list this cookie in their cookie policy, including its purpose and duration.
- No separate opt-in is required for it, but transparency toward visitors remains mandatory.
How to block or delete cmplz_functional
A visitor can delete or block this cookie through browser settings (for example, the privacy/cookies section in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge). Blocking it may cause the consent banner to reappear on every visit, since the site can no longer read the previous choice.
For site owners, a CMP such as CookieFix can automatically block scripts that set non-essential cookies until consent is given, but strictly necessary cookies like cmplz_functional are typically exempt from blocking, precisely because they underpin the consent mechanism itself.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is a technical cookie used by Complianz to remember a visitor's consent choice for the functional cookie category, not for advertising tracking.
No, since it is classified as strictly necessary, it does not require prior consent, but it must be disclosed in the site's cookie policy.
Its typical duration is 1 year, after which the browser removes it automatically if the visitor does not return.
The site will show the Complianz consent banner again on the next visit, since the previous choice is no longer stored.