A cookie banner is a message displayed to users on a website, typically when they first visit the site, to inform them about the use of cookies and similar technologies. A cookie banner is typically a pop-up or overlay that appears on the website and contains information about the types of cookies used on the website and the purposes for which the cookies are used. Some cookie banners allow users to accept or reject the use of cookies, and many provide more granular options for managing cookies.
Websites typically use cookie banners to comply with privacy laws. Under some legal frameworks, cookie banners must collect informed consent from the user: this is the case with the EU data protection framework, as the e-Privacy directive mandates consent for non-essential cookies. Other privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), allow the processing of cookies without consent but still require the website to provide information about the use of cookies to the user.