What is the PrestaShop- cookie?
PrestaShop- is a technical cookie automatically generated by PrestaShop, the open-source platform used to build online stores. It is not a third-party cookie but part of the core engine running the store itself.
It appears as soon as a visitor first accesses a site built on PrestaShop, whether they simply browse products or go on to add an item to the cart. The actual cookie name includes, after the prefix, a unique hash generated for that specific store installation, so each PrestaShop site has its own cookie name.
What data it stores
The cookie stores a session identifier that links the visitor's browser to the active PHP session on the server. The value is typically a randomly generated alphanumeric string, with no directly readable information about the user.
- Value format: server-generated session identifier (exact length and structure vary)
- Sent to: the server hosting the PrestaShop store, not external services
- Typical duration: 20 days
What it is used for
The cookie's main role is to maintain the user's session state during a visit and, often, across nearby visits: the shopping cart, compared products, login state, and temporary browsing preferences (language, selected currency) all depend on this identifier.
Without it, the platform could not recognize that successive requests come from the same user, which would make the shopping cart and checkout process unusable.
Does it require consent?
As a cookie strictly necessary for the store's technical operation (session, cart, checkout), PrestaShop- falls, under ANSPDCP guidance and general European ePrivacy practice, into the category of cookies exempt from prior consent.
- Does not require visitor consent to be set
- Must still be disclosed, with purpose and duration, in the site's cookie policy
- Site administrators must classify it correctly as "necessary" in the consent banner, not as statistics or marketing
How to block or delete PrestaShop-
A visitor can delete or block this cookie through browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all allow deleting cookies per site or blocking cookies entirely). Blocking it, however, will break store functionality: the shopping cart and account login will stop working correctly.
Because it is strictly necessary, a CMP like CookieFix should not block this cookie before consent, but should list it correctly in the cookie policy alongside cookies that do require automatic blocking (statistics, marketing).
Frequently asked questions
No, it is a strictly necessary cookie for the store's core functionality (session, shopping cart) and is exempt from prior consent under ePrivacy and GDPR. It must still be disclosed in the cookie policy.
The current session is lost: the shopping cart empties, and if you were logged in, you'll be signed out. A new session cookie is generated automatically on the next action.
The typical duration is 20 days, though this can be configured differently depending on the specific PrestaShop installation's settings.
The hash uniquely identifies that particular store installation, so each PrestaShop site has its own distinct cookie name, different from other stores built on the same platform.