Essential Cookies

Cookies that are strictly necessary for a website or service to function properly, without which the service cannot be provided. Essential cookies enable core functionality like security, network management, accessibility, authentication, shopping carts, and basic site navigation. Examples include session cookies maintaining login status, security cookies preventing fraud, load balancing cookies distributing traffic, and cookies remembering items in shopping carts. The key characteristic: the service literally cannot work without these cookies—they're not just helpful or customary, but genuinely required. Essential cookies typically don't require consent under ePrivacy and GDPR because they're necessary to provide the service the user requested. However, organizations must honestly assess whether cookies are truly essential—analytics cookies aren't essential, marketing cookies aren't essential, and preference cookies that merely enhance experience usually aren't essential. Only use the essential category for cookies that are actually necessary for basic functionality.