What are cookies, and what is localStorage?
Cookies are small text files that a website can store in your browser. When you visit the site again, the browser sends those files back to the server, which allows the site to "remember" something about you — for example, whether you're logged in or what's in your cart.
localStorage is a related browser feature. Like cookies, it stores small amounts of data in your browser. The difference is that localStorage is never sent to the server automatically, and it has no expiration date — it stays until you clear it or the website removes it. For a small takeout site like ours, localStorage is the cleaner option, because it doesn't require us to send identifying data with every request.
What we use
We use browser storage for exactly two things on this website:
1. Your shopping cart
When you add an item to your cart, we save the list of items (their IDs, names, prices, and quantities) in localStorage under the key maltshop_cart. This is what makes the cart persist if you reload the page or navigate between pages. Without this, your cart would be lost every time you clicked a link, which would make ordering takeout practically impossible.
Type: Strictly necessary.
Stored: In your browser only. Not transmitted until you submit an order.
Expires: Never (until you clear it or place an order).
2. Cookie banner acknowledgement
When you click "Got it" on our cookie banner, we save a flag in localStorage under the key maltshop_cookies_accepted. This tells the site not to show you the banner again. That's it — no advertising, no analytics, no tracking.
Type: Strictly necessary.
Stored: In your browser only.
Expires: Never (until you clear it).
What we don't use
We do not use any of the following:
- Advertising or marketing cookies
- Analytics or tracking cookies (no Google Analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no similar services)
- Social media cookies
- Session recording or heat-mapping tools
- Cross-site tracking of any kind
- Third-party cookies set by our site directly
We do not have a "personalization" layer, we do not retarget visitors, and we do not build profiles. There is no opt-in or opt-out for tracking because there is no tracking.
Third-party services that may set their own storage
When you visit our site, your browser requests resources from the following third parties. These services may set their own cookies or read their own localStorage on your device, subject to their own policies:
- Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com, fonts.gstatic.com). Serves the typefaces used on the site. Google may log requests for its own operational purposes. See Google's privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy.
- Font Awesome via Cloudflare (cdnjs.cloudflare.com). Serves icons. Cloudflare may log requests. See cloudflare.com/privacypolicy.
- Google Maps — an embedded map on our Visit page. Google may set cookies when the map loads. Google's privacy policy applies.
We don't control what these third parties do with the technical information they receive. If you wish to prevent their cookies, you can block them via your browser settings or an extension such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger. The site will still function, though some fonts and icons may look different and the embedded map may not load.
How to control or clear your browser storage
You can view, manage, and delete cookies and localStorage at any time through your browser settings. Below are direct links to instructions for the most common browsers:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies, and Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → View permissions and data stored across sites.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data.
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data.
Clearing your browser storage will remove your cart and reset the cookie banner, so you'll see the banner again on your next visit. Nothing else is affected.
Do Not Track
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal when you visit a site. Because we do not track users in the first place, DNT has no practical effect on our site — the answer is the same whether you send it or not. We don't ignore it; there's simply nothing to turn off.
Changes to this policy
If we ever add a cookie or storage mechanism that isn't strictly necessary — for example, if we add analytics at some point in the future — we will update this policy, and we will ask for your consent before setting any such cookie. For now, the list above is complete.
Questions
If you have questions about how we use cookies or localStorage, please contact us:
The Malt Shop
150 N Main St, Ephraim, UT 84627
(435) 283-4101
[email protected]