A first party cookie is set directly by the website a visitor is browsing, using that site’s own domain. First party cookies are generally more trusted by browsers and less restricted than third party cookies, since they’re tied to a direct relationship between the visitor and the site.

Examples

• A site sets a first party cookie to remember a visitor’s language preference.

• An analytics tool uses first party cookies to reduce the chance of being blocked by browser privacy settings.

• A login session is maintained using a first party cookie.

FAQs

Are first party cookies affected by browser privacy restrictions?

Less than third party cookies, though some browsers still limit their lifespan or scope.

Why do analytics tools prefer first party cookies?

They’re more resilient to ad blockers and browser restrictions than third party cookies.

Are first party cookies enough to avoid privacy regulation?

No. First party cookies can still qualify as personal data and require disclosure or consent under laws like GDPR.