Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device when you visit them. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to the site owners. Cookies may be “session” cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or “persistent” cookies (remain until they expire or you delete them).

2. How GradeDate Uses Cookies

GradeDate uses only essential session cookies for authentication purposes. When you log in, we set a single session cookie that keeps you logged in as you navigate the Service. This cookie is:

• Essential: Required for the Service to function properly. Without it, you would be logged out after every page change.
• HttpOnly: Not accessible to JavaScript, which helps protect against cross-site scripting attacks.
• Session-based: Set to expire after 7 days of inactivity, or when you log out.

We also use one first-party cookie (gd_exp_id) that holds a random, anonymous identifier. It exists only to keep your experience consistent when we test different versions of a page — for example, the wording of a signup button. It contains no personal information, is never shared with anyone, and is never sent to our servers: we only record which version of the page you saw.

After a valid grade-result CTA exposure, we may set gd_attribution_claim, an HttpOnly, first-party cookie used to preserve anonymous experiment attribution for a limited period (14 days). It contains no identity or claim data readable by scripts, uses SameSite=Lax, and is Secure in production. It is not issued for conversions or invalid events and is best-effort; grading and CTA use do not depend on it.

3. What We Do NOT Use

GradeDate does not use:

• Tracking cookies: We do not track your browsing activity across sites or sessions.
• Advertising cookies: We do not serve ads or use cookies for ad targeting.
• Third-party cookies: All cookies set by GradeDate are first-party. No third-party services set cookies through our site.
• Analytics cookies: We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar tracking services.

4. Cookie Consent Banner

On your first visit to GradeDate, you will see a cookie consent banner at the bottom of the page. This banner informs you that GradeDate uses session cookies for authentication and links to this Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy. By clicking “Got it” or continuing to use the Service, you consent to our use of essential session cookies.

Because our cookies are strictly necessary for the Service to function, they fall under the “strictly necessary” exemption in most privacy regulations (including GDPR and ePrivacy Directive). This means consent is not legally required for these cookies, but we provide the banner for transparency.

5. How to Disable Cookies

Most web browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies through their settings. Here are links to instructions for common browsers:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
• Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data

Please note that disabling cookies will prevent you from staying logged in to GradeDate, as our session cookie is essential for authentication. The Service will not function properly without cookies enabled.

6. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

7. Contact

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, please contact us at contact us. You can also review our Privacy Policy for more information about how we handle your data.