Cookies are small text files that websites install on users’ devices for different purposes. You can think of them as a website’s memory: every time you go back to a website you’ve already visited, cookies remember your preferences. But what’s the difference between first-party vs third-party cookies?
First-party cookies are created and stored directly by the website you visit. They are very common because they help with core functionality, such as remembering your login information, preferences, or the items you saved in your shopping cart.
In some cases, statistical cookies that are directly managed by the website owner also fall into this category and can be installed without the user’s consent.
A good example of a first-party cookie is cart_items.
You visit an online store and add items to your shopping cart, but don’t make a purchase. If you leave the site and return later, you will see that your cart still contains the items you selected. This is possible for the cart_items first-party cookie.
Other examples of first-party cookies are:
user_session: it keeps the user logged into their account on a website.language: it remembers the language selected by the user.wishlist: it saves products that the user has marked as favorites.theme_mode: it remembers whether the user prefers a light or dark mode on the website.On the other hand, third-party cookies are created and stored on websites that are different from the one you are visiting. Typically, third-party cookies are present when a site uses third-party services to incorporate images, social media plugins, or advertising.
Cookies used for retargeting are a good example of third-party cookies.
You visit an online store, searching for a new pair of shoes. Over the next few days, as you scroll through social media, you see ads for that exact pair of shoes. This is made possible by third-party cookies, that track your online activity and create a profile tailored to what you like.
Anyway, all cookies that are installed from a website that’s different from the one you visit, are third-party cookies.
The main difference between first-party and third-party cookies is who sets the cookie. First-party cookies are created by the website the user is visiting and can only be accessed by that domain. On the other hand, third-party cookies are set by external domains, such as advertising or analytics providers. These cookies can be accessed by the third-party domain that created them when its scripts or resources are loaded on multiple websites, but the individual websites themselves cannot directly access this cookie data.
When a third-party cookie is set by a third-party server (e.g., adtech.com), it is tied to that server’s domain. If multiple websites integrate scripts or resources from adtech.com, those websites do not have access to the data stored in the cookie. Instead, the third-party domain (adtech.com) can access and aggregate data collected from all the websites that use its cookies.
If you own a website, you need to know how to manage cookies in the right way. Many companies have been fined for their unlawful use of cookies – for example, they were installing tracking cookies without the users’ consent.
Cookie requirements may vary depending on your location and the location of your users. However, three main things apply generally:
The requirements described above primarily regard EU Law, one of the strictest when it comes to cookies. If you are based in the US, and only target US users, no particular legal obligations apply to the use of cookies. However, you still need to inform users about your processing activities (including those carried out through cookies) and be mindful of the opt-out rights that the different state laws grant to consumers. Under an opt-out approach, personal data may be processed without first obtaining consent but users may revoke it in relation to certain processing activities, generally targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, and profiling. If you’re not sure about which law applies to you, the safest option is to comply with the strictest standard.
iubenda simplifies cookie management with its smart technology, saving you time and granting peace of mind:
✅ Our Site Scanner suggests the category of cookies you should add to your cookie policy.
✅ Our Privacy Controls and Cookie Solution suggests the best configuration for your website.
✅ The Autoblocking feature automatically blocks the most popular cookie scripts on your website and then immediately releases them after consent.
✅ The Geolocation Technology adapts the behavior of your cookie banner based on the location of your users, to help you meet the right requirements and improve your consent rate.
