ISTQB® Cookie Policy
Last update : 29 April 2026
1. Introduction
1.1 ISTQB® is a not-for-profit association registered under Belgian law with registration number 0889.625.305 and with its registered office at 47, Avenue des Arts, 1000 Brussels.
1.2 As is further set out below, we use cookies on the ISQTB® website at www.istqb.org, awards.istqb.org, partner.istqb.org, scr.istqb.org, glossary.istqb.org ( “Website” ). In this cookie policy, we explain which cookies are used and why.
1.3 If you have any questions about how we collect, store, transfer and use your personal information, please read our Privacy Notice & Terms of Use which is accessible via the link https://www.istqb.org/privacy-notice-a-terms-of-use.html or contact us via the ISTQB® Secretariat by any of the following means :
- E-mail: secretary.backoffice@istqb.org
- Post: Avenue des Arts 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
2. About cookies
2.1 What are cookies?
Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your device’s hard drive through your web browser and that enables the websites or service providers systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information.
2.2 Types of cookies
2.2.1 By storage duration
Cookies can be temporary or permanent. Temporary cookies are only temporarily stored in your browser or application. As soon as you close and leave your browser or application, those cookies will be deleted. Permanent cookies remain on your computer or mobile device, even if you close the browser or the application. They make it possible to recognize you during subsequent visits to the website or application and remain on your device until their end date is reached, until a new cookie is installed, or until you delete them in your settings of your browser, application or mobile device.
2.2.2 To the party that manages the cookies
First-party cookies are cookies that ISTQB® manages and that are specific to the visited or used online service. Third party cookies are cookies that are managed and placed by a third party. This happens during your visit or use of the website. Third party cookies ensure that certain information is sent to third parties by your visit to the website.
2.2.3 To the use of cookies
Necessary cookies are indispensable to securely verify your identity, to give you access to a closed part or application and to remember your session.
Functional cookies ensure that the website functions properly and guarantee faster and more efficient use. Examples include cookies for:
- remembering your login details
- ensuring the security of your login credentials
- ensuring the uniformity of the layout of the website
Website performance cookies are load balancing cookies (e.g. time zone registration). Websites that are frequently visited use these cookies to distribute the burden of requests over multiple, separate networks and servers.
Performance and analysis cookies can be used to collect information about how visitors use a website. This is done to improve the content of the website and to increase the ease of use. A good example is the cookies for Google Analytics. This measures the number of visitors, etc.
Social media cookies are used when a website implements so-called embedded elements from other third parties such as YouTube and Facebook. These are used to integrate social media into the website via plugins. Your permission must always be requested for the use of these cookies.
3. Our cookies
We do not ask your permission for the use of strictly necessary cookies which are needed for the operation of the website and to ensure that the website functions properly. However, the use of other cookies require your consent which we collect via our cookie banner on our Website.
| Cookie | Domain | Description | First or third party | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga_* | .istqb.org | Google Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views. You can read Google’s overview of privacy and safeguarding data here. | Third party | 1 year 1 month 4 days | Analytics |
| _ga | .istqb.org | The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site’s analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. | Third party | 1 year 1 month 4 days | Analytics |
| _gid | .istqb.org | Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website’s performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. | Third party | 1 day | Analytics |
| flatsome cookie notice | .istqb.org | Our website uses WordPress, a popular content management system. This cookie is essential for maintaining your session and allowing you to navigate our website seamlessly (maintains user Sessions, enhances user experience and secures your account). | First party | session | Necessary |
| __cf_bm | elementor.com | Is used to override any security restrictions based on the IP address the visitor is coming from. For example, if the visitor is in a coffee shop where there are a bunch of infected machines, but the visitor’s machine is known trusted, then the cookie can override the security setting. It does not correspond to any userid in the web application, nor does the cookie store any personally identifiable information. Note: This cookie is strictly necessary for site security operations and can’t be turned off. | Third party | 1 hour | Necessary |
| ea11y-global-state | .istqb.org | Elementor sets this cookie to store the persistent accessibility preferences selected by the user, such as panel visibility or interface adjustments, so these settings remain the same when the user revisits the site. | Third party | never | Functional |
| ea11y-session-state | .istqb.org | Elementor sets this cookie to temporarily store accessibility preferences for the duration of the current browsing session, ensuring the selected settings remain consistent while the user navigates the site. | Third party | session | Functional |
4. Disabling/ Enabling Cookies
You have the ability to accept or decline cookies by modifying your choices on the cookie banner. You can also change the settings in your browser or manually remove cookies from your system. Click on the name of your browser to find out more about how your browser works:
- Internet Explorer
- Google Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
Keep in mind that disabling cookies may result in certain graphic elements or applications on the website working less well. ISTQB® does everything necessary to guarantee the proper functioning of the website. Certain elements of the website, however, require the use of cookies.
5. Updates to our cookie policy
We may amend or update this cookie policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices with respect to the processing of your personal data, or changes in applicable law. When we publish changes to our policy, we will always change the date and version number of the “last update” of our cookie policy.