What Are Cookies Anyway?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device. Think of them as digital sticky notes. When you visit learncourse.com, your browser might store some of these files. They help us remember things like your login status or which courses you've bookmarked.

Most cookies expire after you close your browser. Others stick around longer, sometimes for months. We use both types depending on what we're trying to accomplish. Session cookies vanish when you leave. Persistent cookies remember you next time you visit.

Beyond traditional cookies, we also use similar technologies like local storage and pixels. They work differently under the hood, but serve similar purposes. For simplicity, we'll call all of these "cookies" in this policy.

Types of Cookies We Use

Specific Cookies on LearnCourse

Here's what we're actually using on learncourse.com. No vague descriptions or corporate speak. Just the facts about what each cookie does and why it exists.

We update this list when we add or remove cookies. The last time we made changes was in January 2025 when we added the progress tracking cookie.

Third-Party Cookies

We're not the only ones setting cookies on your device. Some of our partners and service providers do too. We're using them to make the site work better, but we thought you should know who else is involved.

Video Platform Cookies

Our course videos are hosted on external platforms. When you watch a lesson, those platforms set their own cookies. They need these to stream video smoothly, remember playback position, and adjust quality based on your connection.

Analytics Services

We use third-party analytics to understand site usage. These services track things like page views, time spent on lessons, and navigation patterns. The data helps us spot problems and improve course structure.

Payment Processors

When you enroll in a paid course, our payment processor sets cookies to handle the transaction securely. These are essential for processing payments and preventing fraud.

How We Use Cookie Data

Let's get specific about what we actually do with the information cookies collect. This isn't just data collection for the sake of it. Each cookie serves a purpose that makes LearnCourse work better.

Improving Course Content

Analytics cookies tell us which lessons students replay most often. If everyone's rewatching the same UV mapping tutorial five times, that's a signal. Maybe the pacing is too fast, or the explanation needs more depth. We use this feedback to revise content.

We also track completion rates for different modules. When we see drop-off patterns, we investigate. Sometimes it's just a difficult topic. Other times, we discover technical issues or unclear instructions that need fixing.

Personalizing Your Experience

Functional cookies remember your preferences. If you always set video speed to 1.5x, we'll default to that next time. If you're left-handed and prefer certain hotkey layouts, we save that too.

Your course recommendations get better over time. When you complete beginner 3D modeling courses, we'll suggest intermediate character design next. This happens because cookies track your learning path.

Technical Performance

Some cookies help us optimize site speed. We track which content loads slowly for certain users. If everyone in Georgia experiences lag on a specific lesson, we'll investigate server routing or cache settings.

Marketing and Outreach

Marketing cookies help us understand which promotional campaigns work. If you clicked an ad about game environment design, we know that topic interests you. We might show you related course announcements.

We don't sell this data to anyone. But we do use it internally to make smarter decisions about which courses to develop next and how to allocate our teaching resources.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have control over non-essential cookies. There are several ways to manage what's stored on your device. Here's how to do it in different browsers.

You can also use the rejection button at the top of this page. When you click it, we'll disable all non-essential cookies immediately. Your preference gets saved in local storage so we remember your choice on future visits.

Data Retention and Storage

Different cookies stick around for different lengths of time. Session cookies disappear when you close your browser. Others persist for days, months, or even a year.

Storage Duration

Essential cookies last as long as necessary for site function. Your login session cookie expires after 24 hours of inactivity. Course progress cookies last up to a year so you can take breaks between lessons.

Analytics cookies typically expire after six months. Marketing cookies last two months. We set these timeframes based on how long the data remains useful for improving your experience.

Where Data Is Stored

Cookie data lives on your device until it expires or you delete it. We also store some information on our servers in the United States and Europe. This includes anonymized analytics data and aggregate usage statistics.

We don't store personally identifiable information in cookies unless absolutely necessary. Your name, email, and payment details live in our secure database, not in browser cookies.

Deleting Your Data

You can delete cookies anytime through your browser settings. We explained how in the previous section. If you want us to delete server-side data associated with your account, email help@learncourse.com with your request.

Under GDPR and similar regulations, you have the right to request data deletion. We'll process these requests within 30 days. Some data might need to be retained for legal or accounting purposes, but we'll delete everything else.

Updates to This Policy

We update this policy when we change how we use cookies. Maybe we'll add new analytics tools, or switch video hosting platforms. When something significant changes, we'll notify active users via email.

Minor updates might happen without notice. Things like fixing typos, clarifying language, or updating cookie duration periods. We always note the last update date at the top of this page.

If you haven't visited in a while, check this page when you return. The version you agreed to last year might be different from what's here now.

Legal Basis for Processing

For those who care about the legal framework: essential cookies operate under "legitimate interest." We need them to provide the service you're requesting when you visit learncourse.com.

Non-essential cookies require consent. When you first visit our site, we ask permission before setting analytics or marketing cookies. You can withdraw consent anytime by using the rejection button on this page.

We comply with GDPR for European users and similar regulations in other jurisdictions. If you're in Georgia, the personal data protection laws there also apply to how we handle your information.