1. What are Cookies?
Cookies are small plain-text files that websites write to your computer or mobile device when you browse pages. They allow web platforms to "remember" your actions, visual settings, or identity parameters over a period of time, eliminating the need to re-enter them on subsequent page requests.
In addition to standard cookies, websites use related storage technologies like Local Storage and Session Storage. These are embedded directly in modern web browsers and perform similar functions with larger data capacities. Throughout this policy, "cookies" refers collectively to browser cookies, local storage, and related tracking scripts.
2. Our Usage of Cookies
Stat & State utilizes cookies to guarantee site reliability and analyze reader interaction metrics. We classify our cookies into three core categories:
- Strictly Necessary: Mandatory files required for fundamental features. This includes keeping track of your light/dark mode color scheme selection and remembering whether you have accepted or rejected non-essential tracking mechanisms. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics & Performance: Optional cookies that gather aggregate, non-identifiable readership metrics. These help us understand which articles are most popular, identify slow-loading pages, and trace general referral routes (e.g., email vs search engine).
- Personalization & Preferences: Optional cookies that save custom settings (such as search history configurations or font zoom parameters) so your site configuration remains customized across separate sessions.
3. Cookie Classification
The table below outlines the primary tracking files and local storage keys utilized across the Stat & State platform:
| Storage Key / Name | Classification | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
theme | Necessary | Saves dark/light mode preference configuration. | Persistent |
stat-state-cookie-consent | Necessary | Records your cookie consent selections. | 1 Year |
_ga, _gid | Analytics | Anonymized statistics tracking page views and user paths. | Up to 2 Years |
4. Manage Your Preferences
You have complete authority over how Stat & State uses optional cookies on your device. Use the interactive panel below to adjust or revoke your consent selections at any time:
Consent Control Center
Changes apply instantly to your local browser storage state.
5. Global Browser Settings
In addition to our Preference Center, you can manage or delete cookies directly within your web browser's configuration dashboard:
- Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies.
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data.
- Apple Safari: Settings > Privacy > Block all cookies.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions.
To learn more about tracking files, including how to review cookies that have been placed on your device and how to delete them globally, visit allaboutcookies.org.