Cookie Policy

Last updated: 13 August 2026

ScholarGate uses a small number of cookies to sign you in, keep the service secure and remember your language choice. We do not use advertising, analytics or cross-site tracking cookies, so no cookie-consent banner is required for the cookies below. If we ever add optional cookies, we will ask for your consent first.

CookiePurposeLifetime
authjs.session-tokenKeeps you signed in after signing in with Google or with email and password (signed JWT, httpOnly). Strictly necessary.30 days, or until you sign out
authjs.csrf-tokenProtects the sign-in flow against cross-site request forgery. Strictly necessary.Browser session
authjs.callback-urlRemembers which page to return you to after sign-in. Strictly necessary.Browser session
authjs.pkce.code_verifierVerifies the Google sign-in handshake (PKCE). Strictly necessary.15 minutes, only during sign-in
sg_sessionKeeps sessions from before the sign-in system changed signed in (HMAC-signed, httpOnly). New sign-ins use authjs.session-token. Strictly necessary.Until it expires or you sign out
NEXT_LOCALERemembers the language you picked with the language switcher (English/Turkish). Set only when you change language.1 year

Secure prefixes#

On the live site (HTTPS) the browser stores the authjs cookies under a __Secure- prefix, and the CSRF cookie under the stricter __Host- prefix. Same cookies, same purposes; the prefix only restricts them to encrypted connections.

Local storage (not a cookie)#

Your theme choice (light/dark) and recently-viewed methods are stored in your browser's local storage on your device. They are never sent to our servers.

Managing cookies#

You can clear or block cookies in your browser settings, but blocking the strictly-necessary cookies above will prevent sign-in from working.

Questions? Use the Contact form. See also the Privacy Notice.