Cookie Policy
Last updated: March 1, 2025
This Cookie Policy explains how ToolVault ("we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website at toolvault.site.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies help us remember your preferences, understand how you use our tools, and serve relevant advertisements.
In addition to cookies, we may also use similar technologies like web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage. This policy covers all of these technologies collectively referred to as "cookies."
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We use four main categories of cookies on ToolVault:
| Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for the website to function properly. Cannot be disabled. | Session / 1 year |
| Functional | Remember your preferences and settings (e.g., dark mode, tool settings). | 1 year |
| Analytics | Help us understand how visitors interact with our website (Google Analytics). | 2 years |
| Advertising | Used by Google AdSense to serve personalized ads based on your interests. | 2 years |
3. Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our website functions.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| tv_cookie_consent | ToolVault | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
| tv_session | ToolVault | Maintains your session state | Session |
| tv_theme | ToolVault | Stores your preferred theme (dark/light) | 1 year |
4. Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts, and other parts of web pages that you can customise.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| tv_tool_settings | ToolVault | Saves your tool preferences (e.g., password length, units) | 1 year |
| tv_recent_tools | ToolVault | Remembers recently used tools for quick access | 30 days |
| tv_language | ToolVault | Stores your preferred language setting | 1 year |
5. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how our visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve the quality of our tools and user experience.
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how visitors use our website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Used to persist session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Used to throttle request rate | 1 minute |
You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
6. Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our website. Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites on the internet. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDE | Google DoubleClick | Used for targeting, analyzing, and optimizing ads | 1 year |
| DSID | Stores information about how end users use the website | 2 weeks | |
| NID | Registers a unique ID to remember your preferences | 6 months | |
| __gads | Google AdSense | Set by Google to measure interactions with ads | 2 years |
| __gpi | Google AdSense | Measures advertising effectiveness | 1 year |
You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page.
7. Third-Party Cookies
In addition to our own cookies, we may also use various third parties' cookies to report usage statistics of the website, deliver advertisements on and through the website, and so on. The main third-party services we use include:
- Google Analytics — Website analytics and usage reporting
- Google AdSense — Advertising and monetization
- Google Fonts — Font rendering (may set cookies related to font delivery)
- cdnjs.cloudflare.com — JavaScript library delivery
These third parties have their own privacy policies that govern their use of cookies and data. We encourage you to review their policies separately.
8. Local Storage and Session Storage
In addition to cookies, we also use browser local storage and session storage to save certain tool outputs and user preferences directly in your browser. This data is stored entirely on your device and is not transmitted to our servers. Examples include:
- Saved notes in our Notes App
- Todo items in the Todo App
- Password generator preferences
- Calculator history
- Unit converter last used units
You can clear this data at any time by clearing your browser's local storage through your browser settings.
9. How to Control Cookies
You have several options to control or limit how cookies are used on your device:
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually find these settings in your browser's "Options" or "Preferences" menu. Here are links to cookie management guides for common browsers:
Our Cookie Banner
When you first visit ToolVault, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of our website.
Opt-Out Tools
- Google Analytics: GA Opt-Out Add-on
- Google Ads: Google Ads Settings
- All advertising: Your Online Choices
10. Consequences of Disabling Cookies
If you choose to disable cookies, please note that some features of our website may not work as intended. For example:
- Your tool preferences may not be saved between visits
- The cookie consent banner may appear on every visit
- Some tools that rely on local storage may have reduced functionality
- Advertisement display may be affected
Essential tools like the calculator, password generator, unit converter, and others will continue to work fully even with cookies disabled, as their core functionality does not depend on cookies.
11. Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly set cookies on the devices of children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has used our website, please contact us so we can take appropriate steps.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
- Email: privacy@toolvault.site
- Contact Form: Visit our Contact Page
- Website: toolvault.site