TL;DR: Quick reference guide for consent management terms used throughout Consently. Understand CMP, TCF, cookie categories, and consent models.
Overview
This glossary defines key terms you'll encounter when using Consently. Understanding these terms helps you navigate the platform and make informed decisions about compliance.
Platform Terms
CMP (Consent Management Platform)
A tool that manages visitor consent for cookies and tracking technologies. Consently is a CMP that helps websites comply with privacy regulations by collecting, storing, and managing user consent preferences.
IAB TCF 2.2 (Transparency & Consent Framework)
An industry standard developed by the Interactive Advertising Bureau for obtaining and managing user consent in programmatic advertising. Consently is IAB TCF 2.2 certified, allowing publishers to work with ad vendors while maintaining compliance.
Consent Log
A record of all consent decisions made by visitors to your website. Includes consent ID, timestamp, location, and choices made. Required for compliance audits.
Cookie Categories
Cookies in Consently are organized into six categories:
1. Essential
Cookies are required for your website to function properly. These cannot be disabled and include session cookies, security cookies, and load-balancing cookies.
2. Analytics
Cookies that collect information about how visitors use your website, such as which pages they visit and how long they stay. Examples: Google Analytics, Matomo.
3. Performance
Cookies that help improve website performance by measuring load times and optimizing content delivery. These differ from Analytics by focusing on technical performance rather than user behavior.
4. Advertising
Cookies are used to deliver targeted advertisements and measure ad campaign effectiveness. Examples: Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, retargeting cookies.
5. Social
Cookies set by social media platforms to track users across websites for social sharing features. Examples: Facebook Like button, Twitter Share button.
6. Unclassified
Cookies that haven't been categorized yet or don't fit into standard categories. These appear when Consently's scanner detects new cookies on your site.
Consent Models
Opt-in (GDPR Model)
Requires explicit consent before non-essential cookies can be placed on a visitor's device. Used for EU/UK visitors and enforced by regulations like GDPR. Visitors must actively click "Accept" for cookies to load.
Opt-out (CCPA Model)
Allows cookies to load by default, but gives visitors the right to opt out of data sales or sharing. Used for US visitors under CCPA and similar state laws. Visitors see a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link instead of a consent banner.
Learn more about when to use each model in Understanding Consent Frameworks.
Usage Metrics
Pageviews
The number of pages loaded on your website each month. Consently's pricing plans have different pageview limits (50K, 250K, or 1M per month). Each time a visitor loads a page where your consent banner is installed, it counts as one pageview.
Domains
The number of unique website addresses (URLs) you can manage in your Consently account. Plans support 1, 5, or 10 domains. Subdomains (blog.example.com) count as separate domains from your main site (example.com).
Compliance Terms
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
EU/UK privacy law requires opt-in consent for non-essential cookies. Covers visitors from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the European Economic Area.
CCPA/CPRA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
California privacy law gives users the right to opt out of personal data sales. Requires an opt-out mechanism rather than prior consent.
TC String (Transparency & Consent String)
A standardized code generated by IAB TCF-certified CMPs that communicates user consent preferences to advertising vendors. Consently generates these automatically when IAB TCF is enabled.