What is the cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional cookie?
This cookie is created by CookieYes, one of the most widely used cookie consent plugins for WordPress. It belongs to a family of cookies with the prefix cookielawinfo-checkbox-* (functional, analytics, advertisement, performance, necessary), one for each category shown in the consent banner.
It is set as soon as a visitor loads a page on a site running CookieYes, even before any choice is made, because the banner needs to know the initial state to display for each category.
What data it stores
The stored value is typically yes or no, reflecting whether the "Functional" checkbox is enabled in the visitor's preference panel. It does not contain unique identifiers, contact details, or browsing data.
It is an HTTP cookie set on the visited site's domain (first-party), read locally by the CookieYes script on every page load to rebuild the banner interface according to the previous choice.
What it is used for
Its purpose is purely administrative: it lets the CookieYes script know whether to activate scripts from the "Functional" category (such as chat widgets, embedded maps, or other optional features) and avoid re-displaying the full banner on every visit.
For the site administrator, this cookie is part of the mechanism that records and enforces the visitor's choice — essential for meeting the granular consent requirements set out in law.
Does it require consent?
This cookie is classified as strictly necessary, since it is part of the consent infrastructure itself rather than the categories that require consent (statistics, marketing, preferences). Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, strictly necessary cookies do not require prior consent, but must be clearly described in the site's cookie policy.
- The administrator must list this cookie (name, provider, purpose, duration) in the cookie policy.
- It should not be blocked before consent, since the banner itself relies on it to function.
- It's worth periodically checking that its value truly reflects the visitor's choice rather than a faulty default.
How to block or delete cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
A visitor can manually delete or block this cookie from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — per-domain cookie management). Deleting it resets the displayed preferences, and the consent banner will reappear on the next visit.
Because it is strictly necessary, a CMP like CookieFix does not auto-block it before consent — it stays active so the banner itself can work, unlike statistics or marketing scripts, which CookieFix automatically blocks until the visitor gives consent.
Frequently asked questions
It's a technical cookie set by the CookieYes plugin to remember whether a visitor has accepted the "Functional" category in the consent banner.
No, it doesn't track user behaviour and contains no personally identifiable data; it only stores a yes/no value tied to the consent banner.
No, it's classified as strictly necessary because it's part of the consent mechanism itself, but it must still be disclosed in the cookie policy.
Its typical duration is 1 year, after which it expires automatically and the banner may reappear if the visitor hasn't returned in the meantime.