GOV.UK
Cookies
Find out more about how cookies are used on GOV.UK and how to manage them.
How we use cookies
Sessions
We set a cookie to record your session activity.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| mdtp | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
| mdtpp | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
| mdtpdf | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
| PLAY_FLASH | Stores session data | When you close your browser |
Our introductory message
You might see a pop-up welcome message when you first visit. We store a cookie on your computer so it knows you've seen it and not to show it again.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| seen_cookie_message | Saves a message to let us know you've seen our cookie message | 1 month |
Our user research banner
You might see a banner about user research when you visit. We store a cookie so your computer knows when you do not want to see it again.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| mdtpurr | Saves a message that you do not want to see it again. | 1 month |
Measure website usage (Google Analytics)
Google Analytics software collects information about how you use the site. We do this to make site improvements and make sure it’s meeting your needs.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit - how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you're visiting the site
We do not pass any personally identifiable information to Google Analytics (eg your name or address) so they can’t use this information to identify who you are.
Google is not allowed to use or share our analytics data.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _gat | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 10 minutes |
| GDS_successEvents and GDS_analyticsTokens | These help us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 4 months |
| _ga | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 2 years |
| ga_nextpage_params | This stores data to be sent to Google on the next page you request | When you close your browser |
You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies (opens in a new tab)link opens in a new window.
Understand end user behaviour (Hotjar)
Hotjar is an analytics and feedback tool that we use to understand how you use the documentation on this website. We do this to make site improvements and make sure it’s meeting your needs
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| help.cookies.hotjar.table.1.namee | Set once you interact with a Survey invitation modal popup. It ensures that the same invitation does not re-appear once shown. | 365 Days |
| _hjDonePolls | Set once you complete a poll using the Feedback Poll widget. It ensures that the same poll does not re-appear once filled in. | 365 Days |
| _hjMinimizedPolls | Set once you minimise a Feedback Poll widget. It ensures that the widget stays minimised while you navigate through the site. | 365 Days |
| help.cookies.hotjar.table.4.namee | Set once you minimise a Recruit User Testers widget. It ensures that the same form does not re-appear once filled in. | 365 Days |
| _hjMinimizedTestersWidgets | Set once you minimise a Recruit User Testers widget. It ensures that the widget stays minimised while you navigate through the site. | 365 Days |
| _hjIncludedInSample | Set to let Hotjar know whether you are included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. | 365 Days |
You can opt-out from having Hotjar collect your information by visiting their opt out page (opens in a new tab) clicking 'Disable Hotjar'.
Comparing different versions of webpages (Optimizely)
Sometimes we use Optimizely software to test different versions of webpages to see which performs better. We do this to make site improvements and make sure it’s meeting your needs.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| optimizelyEndUserId | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 10 years |
| optimizelyRedirectData | This helps us identify how you use GOV.UK so we can make the site better | 5 seconds |
You can opt out from having Optimizely collect your information by visiting their opt out page (opens in a new tab) and entering our Developer Hub URL in their opt out form:https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation
Our satisfaction survey (SurveyMonkey)
We use SurveyMonkey (opens in a new tab) to collect responses to our survey. If you take part, SurveyMonkey saves cookies to your computer to track your progress.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| mbox | This is used to keep your progress through the survey | 30 minutes |
| SSOE | This is used for testing different content and features on the survey website to help make it better | When you close your browser |
| TS5159a2 and TSd0b041 | These are used to manage survey traffic by sending your computer to a specific server | When you close your browser |
| ep201 | This is used to help us identify how you use the survey | 30 minutes |
| ep202 | This works with ep201 to help us identify how you use the survey | 1 year |
You can find out more about the cookies that SurveyMonkey uses (opens in a new tab) and how to opt out.