Skip to main content

Cookies

10 min read

What Are Functional Cookies? The Complete Guide

By Shreya November 5, 2024

What Are Functional Cookies? The Complete Guide

In today’s online ecosystem, website owners must balance creating a seamless user experience with complying with privacy laws. Cookies are central to this balance, enhancing website functionality while keeping user data secure. Among the various types of cookies, functional cookies play a critical role in providing a smooth and personalised browsing experience without compromising privacy standards. They not only ensure a seamless experience but also enhance a website’s overall performance and functionality.

This guide offers an in-depth overview of what functional cookies are, how they work, and how to implement them effectively while adhering to privacy laws like the GDPR and CCPA.

What are functional cookies?

Functional cookies, also known as functionality cookies, are used to remember user preferences and settings to enhance the browsing experience. These cookies allow websites to maintain personalised interactions, storing data such as login details, language settings, and other user preferences. In addition to personalisation, they support additional features like playing embedded videos, enabling web chat functionalities, and enhancing search options, which collectively improve website performance.

Search and explore detailed info on functional cookies

Unlike advertising cookies or tracking cookies, which can follow users across multiple websites, functionality cookies are typically first-party cookies. They are designed to improve website functionality without tracking user activity on other domains. This makes them especially important regarding privacy regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), which demand strict user consent for non-essential cookies.

Functional cookies vs other cookie types

FeatureFunctional CookiesAdvertising CookiesPerformance Cookies
PurposeEnhance the user experience by remembering user preferences and enabling additional functionalities.Track users across websites to deliver targeted ads, often involving third-party services.Collect data on website uses to improve website performance and user experience.
Cookie Consent RequiredYes, under privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.Yes, especially for third-party cookies involved in marketing.Often required, depending on local privacy laws such as GDPR.
Data TrackingLimited to storing preferences on a single site, without tracking users across websites.Tracks users across websites, potentially involving sharing data with third-party providers.Tracks user interactions, often through analytics cookies like Google Analytics, to optimise performance.
ExamplesRemember language preferences, login credentials, web chat sessions, or personalised video playback settings.Third-party cookies for ad networks, social media plugins, and pixels for retargeting.Collecting data on user behaviour via web browser interactions to monitor website performance.
Impact on User ExperienceProvides a personalised browsing experience by remembering user choices and maintaining consistency.Delivers personalised ads, which can improve relevance but raise data privacy concerns.Helps website owners understand user interactions and refine the browsing experience.

Key uses of functional cookies

Functional cookies are integral to delivering a personalised and seamless browsing experience. They also boost website performance by ensuring features work efficiently. Below are some primary uses:

  • Remembering login information: These cookies keep users logged in as they navigate the website, avoiding the need for repeated logins.
  • Storing language preferences: Websites can display content in the preferred language of the user, saving the need to select language settings each time.
  • Maintaining user preferences: They manage display settings, such as theme, font size, or layout, ensuring a consistent interface tailored to user preferences.
  • Enabling advanced features: These cookies are crucial for supporting additional capabilities like web chat functionality, personalised video playback, and customised search filters.
  • Handling shopping cart data: These cookies ensure that items remain in a user’s shopping cart as they continue to browse, improving the buying experience.
  • Improving overall website performance: By managing content delivery and customising user interactions, functional cookies ensure websites operate smoothly and efficiently.

The impact of privacy regulations on functional cookies

Functional cookies are particularly relevant in the context of privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA, which strictly regulate user consent for cookies that aren’t strictly necessary. These laws require websites to obtain explicit user consent before deploying non-essential cookies. This makes consent management platforms (CMPs) crucial for website owners to remain compliant while offering a seamless experience. Tools like CookieYes simplify the management of functional cookies, ensuring they are used transparently and lawfully.

Despite privacy regulations, many users struggle to make informed cookie choices. Educating them boosts acceptance rates. Studies show informed users are 1.58 times more likely to consent. Clear communication on benefits, like remembering preferences, increases willingness to accept functional cookies.

How to implement functional cookies

Implementing functional cookies effectively requires careful consideration of global privacy laws, including GDPR and CCPA. Follow these best practices for compliance:

  1. Conduct a cookie audit: Begin with a detailed cookie audit. Review your website’s cookies, identifying which ones are functional, session cookies, or persistent cookies. Classify them based on their role in website functionality.
  2. Disclose cookie use transparently: Provide clear explanations of what each cookie does, including information about any third-party services involved. Ensure users understand the purpose of functional cookies, such as maintaining their browsing experience.
  3. Implement user consent mechanisms: Ensure users can easily opt in or out of non-essential cookies, including functional cookies. Make sure user consent is straightforward, with options to adjust cookie preferences at any time. 

Tools for managing functional cookies

Effectively managing cookies is crucial to maintaining transparency and compliance with privacy laws. Consider using consent management platforms that offer the following features:

  • Automatic cookie scanning: Identify cookies that may require user consent, including those related to third-party services like analytics tools.
  • Customisable cookie banners: Clearly communicate the use of functional cookies and other cookie categories through customisable banners that match your website’s branding.
  • Ongoing compliance updates: Stay compliant with changing regulations by using automated updates that align with the latest privacy requirements. This can involve adjustments for global laws like GDPR, which regulate user consent and data privacy.
  • Cookie policy generator: Easily create a comprehensive cookie policy tailored to your website, outlining the use of functional cookies and other types. This ensures transparency and helps users understand what data is collected and why, supporting legal compliance.

With CookieYes, you can get all these and more on one platform.

Manage internet cookies hassle-free

Auto-block tracking cookies and
simplify consent management with CookieYes

14-day free trialCancel anytime

FAQ on functional cookies

What are examples of functional cookies?

A common example of functional cookies is a web chat cookie that stores chat history and preferences during a live chat session, allowing for a seamless experience if you navigate to different pages or revisit the site.

What is the difference between performance and functionality cookies?

Performance cookies help websites run smoothly by tracking things like page load times. They don’t collect personal data, just information to make the site better. Functionality cookies, on the other hand, remember user choices—like their preferred language or if they are logged in—improving user experience.

What are the main functions of cookies?

Cookies keep everything running smoothly on a website. They remember user preferences, track what users find interesting, show them relevant ads, and keep things secure. In short, they make browsing easier, more personal, and convenient for users.

Photo of Shreya

Shreya

Shreya is the Senior Content Writer at CookieYes, focused on creating engaging, audience-driven blog posts and related content. Off the clock, you’ll find her happily lost in the world of fiction.

Keep reading

Featured image of Google Cookie Deprecation Reversal: What It Means for Marketers in 2025?

Cookies

Google Cookie Deprecation Reversal: What It Means for Marketers in 2025?

After four years and repeated delays, Google has thrown a curveball—pausing its long-awaited third-party cookie …

Read more
Featured image of The Ultimate Guide to Data Compliance in 2025

Privacy Laws

The Ultimate Guide to Data Compliance in 2025

Data is power, but with power comes responsibility. As businesses collect more personal data, compliance …

Read more
Featured image of Basic vs Advanced Google Consent Mode: Complete Guide

Consent

Basic vs Advanced Google Consent Mode: Complete Guide

In this guide, we will break down basic vs advanced google consent mode—so you can make the best choice for your business.

Read more

Show all articles