---
type: Public Guide
title: Privacy and Cookies
description: Draft information about the browser storage Photobots uses, why it
  is used, and how to clear saved data.
tags:
  - photobots
  - privacy
  - browser-storage
  - cookies
updated: 2026-07-16
audience: public
public: true
locale: en-AU
pageId: docs.privacy-and-cookies
route: /docs/en/privacy-and-cookies
canonicalUrl: https://photobots.netlify.app/docs/en/privacy-and-cookies.html
markdownTwin: /docs/en/privacy-and-cookies.md
sourceDigest: 099abcf23b3ae2c9726310fda154d80c80b6b43f5ca7eb87b27f6d02262e8773
translationState: source
relatedConcepts:
  - browser-storage
  - privacy
  - saved-archetypes
sourceDocs:
  - packages/archetypes/src/storage/photobots-browser-state.ts
---

# Privacy and Cookies

> Draft: this wording is awaiting privacy and legal review. It describes the
> current source implementation and does not introduce a consent notice or new
> cookie.

Photobots runs the simulation in your browser. The public app does not create
a visitor account or upload your selected image. Ordinary requests for the
site, its JavaScript, worker, WebAssembly engine, documentation, and images
still reach the hosting service.

## Browser Storage Used by Photobots

Photobots currently uses browser storage for these purposes:

- **Language and interface preferences.** Local storage names beginning with
  `photobots.ui.*` remember the simulation language, setup choices, and panel
  choices. `photobots-docs-theme` remembers the documentation theme.
- **Simulation setup and saved archetypes.** The `photobots` IndexedDB
  database and local-storage names beginning with `photobots.archetypes.v1`
  keep explicitly saved archetypes available for a later visit. The
  `photobots_continuation` IndexedDB database keeps the selected image and the
  latest safe simulation boundary on this device, so an interrupted active
  simulation can be resumed explicitly after a reload. This data is not
  uploaded by Photobots.
- **Session diagnostics and debug state.** The
  `photobots.wasmDebug` session-storage name applies only to the current
  browser session.
- **Temporary legacy cleanup.** Old
  `photobots_diagnostics_checkpoint_*` local-storage names and the
  `photobots_recovery` database are retired. A best-effort cleanup removes
  them after setup becomes interactive.

The current source does not register a service worker or use the Cache API.
The current public app does not write the reserved `nf_lang` language cookie
or the reserved `photobots.storageChoice.v1` local choice record. Those names
remain reserved while the exact language-cookie notice awaits review.

## Clearing Saved Data

Use **Clear saved data** at the bottom of simulation setup or in the running
simulation controls. It clears Photobots language and setup preferences, panel
choices, documentation theme, saved archetypes, session debug state, retired
diagnostic data, the saved simulation continuation, the retired recovery
database, and the `nf_lang` cookie if it exists.

Clearing saved browser data does not stop, rewind, or erase a simulation that
is already running in memory. You can also use your browser's ordinary
site-data controls.

## Contact

Questions about this project can be directed to
[Dave Sag](https://about.me/davesag).