What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website you visit. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide website operators with information about how the site is used.
Cookies are not programs and cannot execute code or carry viruses. They contain only information — typically a unique identifier and a short expiry date.
Cookies we use
TextCompare uses a very minimal set of cookies. We do not use advertising cookies, social media cookies, retargeting pixels, or any third-party tracking tools beyond the analytics described below.
Google Analytics cookies (analytics)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use TextCompare in aggregate. These cookies collect anonymous data only — they do not identify you personally and they do not track you across websites for advertising purposes.
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
_ga |
Distinguishes unique users for GA4 reporting | 2 years |
_gid |
Distinguishes users within a single day for GA4 | 24 hours |
_ga_XXXXXXXX |
Persists GA4 session state | 2 years |
All Google Analytics cookies are classified as analytics cookies under ePrivacy Directive and GDPR guidance. They do not contain any personal information and do not enable us to identify you as an individual.
localStorage (not a cookie)
In addition to cookies, TextCompare uses your browser's localStorage API to remember your preferences, such as your preferred diff mode (side-by-side vs. unified), display settings, and other UI choices.
localStorage data is fundamentally different from cookies:
- It is stored entirely on your own device and never transmitted to our servers
- It is not subject to cookie consent requirements under most privacy frameworks
- It does not expire automatically — it persists until you clear your browser's local storage
- It cannot be read by other websites or third parties
You can clear localStorage data at any time via your browser's developer tools or privacy settings.
How to control cookies
You have several options for managing or disabling cookies:
Browser settings
All modern browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through the browser settings menu. You can block all cookies, allow only first-party cookies, or delete cookies on a per-site basis. Note that blocking analytics cookies will not affect the core functionality of TextCompare — the diff tool will continue to work fully.
Google Analytics opt-out
You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits by installing the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This works across all websites that use Google Analytics.
Do Not Track
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites. While there is no universal standard for how websites must respond to DNT signals, we acknowledge your preference and encourage you to use the opt-out methods above for the most reliable result.
Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: getinfotoyou@gmail.com
- Contact form: TextCompare Contact Page