Cookie Policy
Last updated: May 4, 2026
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide reporting information to site owners.
2. How We Use Cookies
Shard uses cookies and similar technologies (local storage, session storage) to operate the service, remember your preferences, and understand how users interact with our platform. We do not use cookies to serve third-party advertisements.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
Required for the service to function. These include session authentication tokens, CSRF protection tokens, and load-balancing cookies. These cannot be disabled without breaking core functionality.
Preference Cookies
Remember your settings such as theme, language, notification preferences, and dashboard layout. Disabling these means your preferences will not be saved between sessions.
Analytics Cookies
Help us understand how users interact with Shard — which features are used most, where users encounter friction, and how we can improve. We use privacy-preserving analytics with no cross-site tracking.
4. Third-Party Cookies
We use a small number of trusted third-party services (e.g. error monitoring, performance analytics) that may set their own cookies. These services are contractually bound to use data only on our behalf and not for their own purposes.
5. Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through:
- Browser settings — most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Refer to your browser's help documentation for instructions.
- In-app settings — visit Settings → Privacy to manage analytics and preference cookies within Shard.
Note that disabling essential cookies will prevent Shard from functioning correctly.
6. Cookie Retention
Cookies are retained for varying periods:
- Session cookies — deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies — retained for up to 12 months, or until you clear them manually
- Authentication tokens — expire after 30 days of inactivity
7. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we make changes to our use of cookies. We will notify you of significant changes via an in-app banner.
8. Contact
Questions about our use of cookies? Contact us at privacy@shard.app.