What visitors' browsers store
This page helps you write your own privacy notice. It is not legal advice.
What is stored#
| What | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The visitor's chosen language | localStorage, under the name rl:<site key>:lang | So the next visit starts in the same language |
| The last verified manifest and language files | localStorage, or IndexedDB when localStorage is blocked or full | So pages can be translated at once and when the network fails |
| Whether the visitor dismissed the language suggestion | sessionStorage, for that tab only | So the banner does not come back every page |
What is not done#
- No cookies are set by the loader or the switcher.
- No tracking, analytics or advertising identifiers.
- No automatic redirect by IP address or by the browser's language setting.
- The language suggestion uses the browser's language in the browser itself. It makes no request to our servers.
Network requests#
The browser asks for your translation files from your own site and, if needed, from the CDNs. Those hosts can see the visitor's IP address and browser details, and the address of the page that asked.
Consent#
Whether storing a language choice or cached files needs consent depends on the law of the countries you serve. One argument is that the storage is requested by the visitor or strictly necessary to show the page in their language. That is a legal question for you and your lawyer: OPEN.
Turning storage off#
An option to switch the storage off completely was designed but is not part of the script tag's settings today: OPEN. Without storage, each page view would fetch the files again.
Clearing#
Visitors can clear it in their browser's site data settings. A visitor who clears it starts again in your original language.