What is the CookieConsent cookie?
CookieConsent is the cookie set by a Consent Management Platform (CMP) solution generically called "Cookie Consent", used by many developers and agencies to implement cookie banners on WordPress sites and custom-built platforms.
The cookie appears as soon as the visitor makes a choice in the banner (accept, reject, or customize), or sometimes on the very first page load, so the script can correctly show or hide the banner on later visits.
What data it stores
The stored value typically reflects the user's consent decision (for example, general acceptance or rejection), possibly along with an identifier or the accepted categories. The exact value format depends on the specific implementation of the script used on a given site, so it cannot be described precisely without checking that site's source code directly.
The cookie is stored locally in the visitor's browser and is read by the consent script to decide whether to show the banner again or load other statistics/marketing scripts.
What it is used for
The main purpose is technical: to avoid showing the consent banner repeatedly on every page the user visits, by remembering the choice already made.
For the site owner, this cookie is essential for the consent mechanism to work correctly and to be able to demonstrate, if audited, that the visitor's preference was respected.
Does it require consent?
As a cookie strictly necessary for the consent mechanism to function, CookieConsent does not require prior visitor consent under the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and equivalent national implementations such as Romania's Law 506/2004 – without it, the site could not honor the user's choice.
- It should still be listed in the site's cookie policy, along with its purpose and actual retention period.
- Site owners should verify that the CMP script in use sets this cookie solely for consent management, without bundling additional tracking data.
How to block or delete CookieConsent
Visitors can delete or block this cookie from their browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – cookies and site data section), but the consent banner will reappear on the next visit, since the previous choice is no longer remembered.
For site owners using CookieFix as their CMP, third-party scripts (statistics, marketing) remain automatically blocked until consent is given, while the consent mechanism's own cookie, such as CookieConsent, is set as soon as the visitor interacts with the banner, since it's required for the mechanism itself to work.
Frequently asked questions
No, it is a strictly technical cookie that only stores the visitor's consent choice, not their browsing behavior on this or other sites.
No, since it is strictly necessary for the consent banner to function, it is exempt from prior consent requirements, but it must still be listed in the cookie policy.
The site will no longer know the visitor's previous choice, and the consent banner will be shown again on the next visit.
Its typical duration is 1 year, after which it expires automatically and the banner will be shown again, even if the visitor never deletes it manually.