What is the laravel_session cookie?
laravel_session is the internal session cookie of Laravel, a widely used PHP framework for building web applications. It doesn't belong to a third-party advertising or analytics company; it's generated by the application itself whenever it runs on Laravel.
The cookie appears as soon as a visitor loads a page that starts a server-side session — for example, logging in, submitting a form, adding an item to a cart, or, depending on configuration, on any visit at all. Essentially, any Laravel-based site using PHP sessions will set this cookie.
What data it stores
The cookie stores an encrypted session identifier generated by Laravel, linking the visitor's browser to session data kept on the server (or another configured session driver, such as a database or Redis). The value is an encrypted string with no directly readable information for the visitor, and its exact format can vary by Laravel version and application configuration.
The actual session data (e.g., login state, cart contents, temporary messages) is not stored in the cookie itself but on the server; the cookie only holds the key identifying that session. It is sent back to the issuing domain with each subsequent request.
What it is used for
The cookie's purpose is purely technical: it allows the Laravel application to recognize the visitor throughout a single browsing session and keep the site functionally consistent — for instance, keeping a user logged in across pages, preventing data loss in a multi-step form, or making a temporary shopping cart work correctly.
Without this cookie, many Laravel applications would be unable to distinguish requests coming from the same user, which would directly affect the site's functionality, not just personalization or statistics.
Does it require consent?
As a cookie strictly necessary for the technical operation of the site (session management), laravel_session falls under the exemption from prior consent set out in ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC and its national transpositions (in Romania, Law 506/2004, enforced by ANSPDCP), and is consistent with the general GDPR framework.
- It does not require visitor consent to be placed.
- It must still be disclosed in the site's cookie policy, with its real purpose and duration.
- Site owners should verify that the Laravel application does not store additional profiling or marketing data in the session, as that could change its classification.
How to block or delete laravel_session
A visitor can delete or block this cookie via browser settings (e.g., clearing cookies for a site or using private browsing). Blocking it can break basic features such as login, shopping carts, or multi-step forms, since the session can no longer be recognized.
From the site owner's perspective, since it's a strictly necessary cookie, laravel_session should not be blocked pending consent — it can be set from the very first moment of the visit. On a consent management platform like CookieFix, cookies in the “necessary” category are left active by default, while scripts in the statistics/marketing categories are automatically blocked until the visitor gives explicit consent.
Frequently asked questions
No. It's a technical session cookie used for the application to function, not for tracking visitors for advertising purposes.
Typically around 2 hours, though the duration can be adjusted by the developer through Laravel's configuration.
No, since it's strictly necessary for the site to work, but it must still be listed in the cookie policy.
You'll typically be logged out or lose current session data, such as shopping cart contents or progress on a form.