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Cookie Policy

Last updated: April 17, 2026

This Cookie Policy explains how Stack Dev Life (stackdevlife.com) uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control their use.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, improve efficiency, and provide information to the site owner. Cookies are not programs and cannot carry viruses or install malware on your device.

2. Cookies We Use

We use a minimal set of cookies, grouped into the following categories:

a) Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function correctly. They cannot be disabled.

CookiePurposeDuration
cookie-consentRemembers your cookie consent preference so we don't ask you again1 year

b) Preference Cookies

These cookies and localStorage entries remember your choices to provide a more personalised experience. No personal data is stored in these entries.

Cookie / Storage KeyPurposeDuration
themeStores your light or dark mode preferencePersistent (localStorage)
helpful:{postId}Remembers that you marked an article as helpful so the button is not shown againPersistent (localStorage)
flagged:{commentId}Remembers that you have already reported a specific comment to prevent duplicate reportsPersistent (localStorage)
sdl:bookmarksStores articles you have saved to your reading list (Save Article feature). Contains article metadata only — title, slug, category, reading time. No account or identity data is stored.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:streakStores your reading streak data — current streak count, longest streak, and date of last visit. Used to display your streak in the site header and profile page.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:reading-statsTracks which articles and tips you have read (by ID) with timestamps. Used to display your reading statistics on the profile page. No content or personal data is stored, only content IDs.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:tool-historyStores your last 10 developer tool visits (tool slug, name, and URL) with timestamps. Used to display recently used tools on the Tools page.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:tool-pinsStores up to 5 tool slugs you have pinned as favourites. Used to display pinned tools at the top of the Tools page.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:challenge:{YYYY-MM-DD}Records that you have viewed the Daily Challenge for a specific date (e.g. sdl:challenge:2026-04-16). Used to show a completion indicator on the Challenge page.Persistent (localStorage)
sdl:badgesStores the IDs and earned dates of badges you have unlocked on the Profile page. Badges are awarded based on local reading and tool usage data — no server-side tracking is involved.Persistent (localStorage)

All of these entries are stored in your browser's localStorageonly — they are never sent to our servers and contain no personally identifiable information. You can clear them at any time by clearing your browser's site data.

c) Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the site so we can improve content and performance. Analytics are only activated after you give consent.

CookieProviderPurposeDuration
_gaGoogle AnalyticsDistinguishes unique users2 years
_ga_*Google AnalyticsMaintains session state2 years

Google Analytics data is anonymised — we have IP anonymisation enabled and do not use it to identify you personally. See Google's Privacy Policy for more detail.

3. What We Do NOT Use

  • We do not use advertising or retargeting cookies.
  • We do not use social media tracking cookies.
  • We do not sell or share cookie data with third parties for marketing.

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several ways to control cookies:

a) Our consent banner

When you first visit the site, a consent banner allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preference at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site.

b) Browser settings

Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies through their settings. Note that disabling strictly necessary cookies may affect how the site works.

c) Opt out of Google Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

5. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

6. Contact

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please reach out at contact@stackdevlife.com or via the contact page. For information on how we handle your personal data more broadly, see our Privacy Policy.