Last updated: 6 November 2026
1. What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file placed on your device (computer, phone) when you visit a website. The term also covers similar technologies, such as browser local storage.
This policy follows Article 82 of the French Data Protection Act and the CNIL guidelines and recommendation of 17 September 2020 on cookies.
2. Essential cookies
Vostay uses no advertising cookies, no tracking pixels and no third-party tools. These cookies are strictly necessary: the law exempts them from consent.
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
sessionid |
Keeps you logged in to the application | 2 weeks |
csrftoken |
Protects forms against attacks (security) | 1 year |
django_language |
Remembers your chosen language | 1 year |
wb_lang |
Remembers the language chosen by the guest on the welcome book | 1 year |
vostay_consent |
Remembers your choice on the cookie banner ("Accept" or "Refuse") | 6 months |
vostay_client |
Stops counting in our statistics a browser that has signed in to the application (our customers) | 13 months |
| Browser local storage (light/dark theme, collapsed menu, ticked boxes in the welcome book) | Remembers your display preferences | Until you clear your browser data |
3. The audience measurement cookie, with your consent
On your first visit, a small banner asks for your consent. Accept and Refuse are equally easy, and the site works the same whatever you choose.
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
vostay_vid |
A randomly drawn identifier that links the pages your browser reads on vostay.fr, to understand how visitors move through the site and improve it | 13 months |
If you accept, we record, under this identifier: the public pages read, the date and time, the site or search engine the visit came from, the country and city (worked out from the IP address, which is never stored). We know neither your name nor your email address; this data is used by Vostay only, never shared or used for advertising, and deleted after 25 months.
If you refuse (or don't answer), no identifier is created: your visit is only counted anonymously, without cookies (see the Privacy policy).
Changing your mind: the "Cookie settings" link at the bottom of every page of the site reopens the banner. Refusing deletes the identifier. Your choice is kept for 6 months, then we ask again.
4. Blocking cookies in your browser
You can set your browser to block or delete cookies. Note that blocking these essential cookies prevents you from logging in to the application.
5. Contact
For any question: contact@vostay.fr.