Analytics and cookies
Alex Hints uses analytics to understand how the site is used. Analytics is on by default, and you can turn it off at any time in Privacy settings.
Your analytics choice
Analytics runs unless you turn it off in Privacy settings below. Declining does not change your access to guides or other site features. We save the choice in a first-party preference cookie so the site can remember it acrossalexhints.com and www.alexhints.com. The preference expires after one year unless you change it or clear this site's data, and it is not sent to Google.
What analytics collects
Unless you turn it off, AlexHints loads Google Analytics 4, provided by Google. It can receive the page and page title you view, the site or campaign that referred you, visit and session information, interactions measured on the site, browser and device details, screen size, and approximate location. Your browser also sends an IP address when it connects to Google.
The Alex Hints tag sends the canonical page address without URL query strings or fragments. We do not add names, email addresses, request or report form entries, or guide-search text to analytics events.
Why we use it
We use analytics reports to count visits, understand which pages and guides are useful, see how readers arrive and move through the site, find technical or navigation problems, and improve the library.
Cookies and browser storage
Google Analytics may set first-party cookies while analytics is on. The_ga cookie distinguishes browsers and the _ga_9SE610SLKV cookie maintains session state. Google sets a default expiry of up to two years, although browser limits and tag settings can shorten that period.
The alexhints_analytics_consent_v1 cookie stores only your analytics choice for up to one year. It is a necessary preference cookie, not an analytics cookie.
How long analytics data is kept
Google Analytics retains data according to the settings applied to the Alex Hints property and Google's own retention rules. Those rules do not apply in the same way to detailed user- and event-level data and to aggregated standard reports.
Google as the analytics provider
Google provides Google Analytics and receives the analytics data described above. Readhow Google uses information from sites that use its services and Google's Privacy Policy.
Change your choice
Use Privacy settings at any time. Turning analytics off stops future collection and removes the Google Analytics cookies this site can access from this browser. It does not automatically erase data Google Analytics already received; that data remains subject to its retention and deletion settings. Clearing this site's cookies also removes your saved choice, so analytics returns to being on.