First-party cookies are cookies set directly by the website the visitor is browsing. They are considered less invasive than third-party cookies.
What are first-party cookies?
First-party cookies are created and read only by the domain the user has directly visited. For example, if you visit example.com, first-party cookies are set by the domain example.com.
Typical uses
- Session management – Maintaining login state
- Shopping basket – Remembering items
- Language preferences – Setting the website language
- Analytics – Measuring traffic (GA in first-party mode)
Advantages of first-party cookies
- Not blocked by most browsers
- Longer lifespan (Safari ITP allows up to 7 days)
- Greater user trust
- Better control over data
Still require consent
Even first-party cookies require consent if they are not strictly necessary for the website to function. Analytics first-party cookies (e.g. Google Analytics) still need user consent.