Last updated: 15 October 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how SciNodes uses cookies and similar technologies, such as browser local storage and IndexedDB, on *.scinodes.com and related domains. Scholaris Labs UK Limited is responsible for this policy. For users in India, Kopili Technologies Private Limited is also responsible. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
1. Summary
- We use only strictly necessary cookies and storage. They keep you signed in, keep the Service secure, and remember your preferences and unsaved work.
- We do not use advertising cookies, cross-site tracking, or third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics.
- Strictly necessary cookies and storage are exempt from consent under the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the EU ePrivacy Directive. That is why we do not show a consent banner.
- If we ever introduce non-essential cookies, we will update this policy and ask for your consent first.
2. What are cookies and local storage?
Cookies are small text files that a website stores in your browser. Local storage and IndexedDB are browser features that let a website save data on your device. Unlike cookies, they are not sent to our servers with every request.
3. Cookies we set
| Name | Domain | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
__session | .scinodes.com | Secure, HTTP-only Firebase session cookie. It keeps you signed in and lets you move between SciNodes products (app, SciVerse, Academy, Support, Docs) without signing in again. | Strictly necessary | Up to 14 days, or until you sign out |
4. Browser storage we use
4.1 Authentication (strictly necessary)
| Key / store | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
firebase:authUser:* and firebaseLocalStorageDb (IndexedDB) | Stores your authentication state and tokens, set by the Firebase Authentication SDK | Until you sign out |
4.2 Preferences (strictly necessary: remembering choices you make)
| Key(s) | What it remembers |
|---|---|
sci-nodes-theme, sci-nodes-platform-font, sci-nodes-date-format | Theme (light or dark), font and date format |
sci-nodes-assistant-language, sci-nodes-explainer-language, sci-nodes-preferred-assistant, sci-nodes-disabled-model-providers | AI assistant language and model preferences |
sci-nodes-reference-style | Citation style |
sci-nodes-gallery-sort, sci-nodes-gallery-shape, sci-nodes-overview-hero-dismissed, sci-nodes-usage-week-anchor | Project gallery layout and dismissed notices |
sn.mapOrder.*, sn.mapPanelHidden, sn.mapPanelWide, sn.cnfgOn, sn.notesLocked.*, sn.librarySuggestOff, sn.unsavedCapNoticeOff, pdfv:highlight-color | Work-desk layout, map panel, notes and PDF highlight preferences |
sci-nodes-autosave-authors, sci-nodes-autosave-venues, sci-nodes-autosave-publications, sci-nodes-autosave-maps | Your autosave settings |
sci-nodes-device-check | Whether your device has passed a compatibility check |
These items persist until you clear them or change the setting.
4.3 Working data (strictly necessary: protecting your unsaved work)
| Key(s) | Purpose |
|---|---|
sn.pdfAnnotations.* | Local cache of PDF annotations, so they are not lost before they sync |
sci-nodes-lab:* | Local working state for lab features |
sci-nodes-pending-map-discards | Unsaved map changes waiting to be processed |
This data stays on your device and is cleared when it has synced or when you clear it.
5. Third-party cookies
- Google and Microsoft sign-in. If you choose to sign in with Google or Microsoft, the sign-in window is served by that provider, which may set its own cookies on its own domains under its own privacy policy. We do not control these cookies.
- Payments. When you check out, Stripe or Razorpay may set cookies on their payment pages for fraud prevention and to process the payment. They act under their own privacy policies.
- Hosting. Our front-end host (Vercel) does not set tracking cookies for us.
6. Managing cookies and storage
You can block or delete cookies and site data in your browser settings. If you block strictly necessary cookies or storage, you will not be able to stay signed in, and some features may not work. Signing out clears your authentication state. Clearing your browser's site data for scinodes.com removes your saved preferences.
7. Changes
We will update this policy if we change the cookies or storage we use. The "Last updated" date shows the latest version.
8. Contact
Questions: privacy@scinodes.com.