What is the comment_author_url_ cookie?
comment_author_url_ is a native WordPress HTTP cookie (not from a third-party plugin), set automatically by wp-comments-post.php when a visitor submits a comment and fills in the optional "Website" field.
It only appears on WordPress sites using the native comment system, and only after a visitor has actually left a comment — it is not set on simple page visits.
What data it stores
The cookie stores the value entered by the visitor in the "Website" field of the comment form — essentially a plain URL, such as the commenter's blog or personal site address.
The value is read and written locally in the visitor's browser so it can be sent back to the WordPress form on later visits; WordPress does not transmit it to external services.
What it is used for
Its purpose is purely convenience: on a new comment, the Name, Email, and Website fields are pre-filled with previously used data so the visitor doesn't have to retype them.
For the site administrator, this cookie carries no analytics or marketing value — it is purely functional, tied to the comment-form experience.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, comment_author_url_ falls under the preferences (functional) category, since it is not strictly necessary for the site's core operation but only enhances an optional feature (the comment form).
- Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, preference cookies require the visitor's prior consent.
- Site administrators must list it in their cookie policy and ensure it is only set after the visitor accepts the "preferences" category in the consent banner.
How to block or delete comment_author_url_
Visitors can delete this cookie anytime from their browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — cookie and site data management sections) or block it using privacy extensions or private browsing mode.
For site owners, the cookie should be blocked automatically until consent is given. A CMP like CookieFix can classify the WordPress comment script under the preferences category and prevent the cookie from being set until the visitor explicitly consents.
Frequently asked questions
It stores the URL a visitor enters in the "Website" field of the comment form so it can be pre-filled on future comments.
No, it's a standard functional cookie with no tracking or advertising purpose; it only stores a URL the user voluntarily entered.
Yes, CookieFix classifies it under preferences, a category that requires the visitor's prior consent before it is set.
Because WordPress appends a unique identifier after the comment_author_url_ prefix, typically tied to the specific comment or post.