Cookies Notice
Last updated: 15 October 2026
The Reference sets no cookies of its own. It keeps a few small items in your browser’s storage (local storage, session storage and IndexedDB), which work in a similar way. Reddit’s tools, which measure our Reddit ads, set Reddit’s cookies, and only if your cookie settings allow it. This notice lists them all.
1. What we store in your browser
| Item | What it does | How long it stays |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-in session (Firebase Authentication, IndexedDB) | Keeps you signed in. Essential. | Until you sign out |
emailForSignInLink |
Remembers the email address you typed while you open the sign-in link we sent you. Essential. | Until the sign-in is complete |
privacyChoices:v1 |
Remembers your answer about Reddit’s tools, and when you gave it, so it is respected. Essential. | Until you change it; where the banner asks, it asks again after six months |
preferredLang, displayCurrency, searchRegion
|
Remember the language, currency and region you chose. | Until you clear them |
saved:segment, reveal:explained, hiddenNote:…,
recentSearches:…, firstScreen:member,
feedback:firstUseAt, feedback:dismissed;
search:last:…, catalogueScroll:… (session storage)
|
Remember the state of the interface: the tab you last opened in Saved, whether you have seen the notes on how contacting a retailer works, your recent searches on this device, whether an account signs in on it (so the first screen fits), when to ask for your feedback, and your last search and where you were in the results. | Until you clear them; the session storage until you close the tab |
2. Measuring our Reddit ads
| Item | What it does | How long it stays |
|---|---|---|
_rdt_uuid and Reddit’s other cookies whose names start with
_rdt_ (cookies)
|
Set by the Reddit Pixel on thereference.uk: an id for your browser, so Reddit can tie your visits here to the Reddit ad you saw or tapped. | Up to 3 months |
redditClickId (local storage) |
Keeps the id Reddit added to the link of the ad you tapped, so a sign-up on a later visit still counts for that ad. | 28 days |
Both are set only if your cookie settings allow Reddit’s tools, and removed when you say no. Reddit may also recognise your browser through its own cookies on reddit.com, if you use Reddit in it. What Reddit receives, and why, is set out in section 5 of our Privacy Notice.
3. Other services
When you sign in with Google, or pay on Stripe’s checkout page, those services may set their own cookies on their own pages (for example, for security and fraud prevention), under their own policies. They are not set on thereference.uk.
4. Your choices
The items in section 1 are needed for the Service to work or only remember your own choices and where you were in the app, so they need no consent. Those in section 2 need it: a banner asks before any is set, and you can change your answer at any time in Cookie settings, at the foot of every page and in Account. On a device set to a US time zone there is no banner: they are on unless you turn them off there (Your privacy choices), and a browser that sends Global Privacy Control counts as a no.
You can also delete or block any of them in your browser’s settings (usually under “site data”). Blocking the sign-in session signs you out and stops most of the Service from working; signing out ends the session.
5. More information
Our Privacy Notice explains how we handle personal data. Questions: privacy@thereference.uk.