Glossary

Key terms used throughout the c15t documentation.

Core Terms

TermDefinition
subjectIdClient-generated device/browser identifier (sub_xxx). Stored in the c15t cookie. Created on first consent save.
externalIdYour authenticated user's ID (from Clerk, Auth0, etc.), linked via identifyUser(). Connects a device to a user account.
consentsThe saved consent state — Record<string, boolean> mapping categories to granted/denied. Used for gating scripts, iframes, and network requests.
selectedConsentsUnsaved toggle state — what the user has toggled in the dialog but hasn't submitted yet. Becomes consents after save.
modeClient operating mode: 'c15t' (full backend), 'offline' (local only), or 'custom' (bring your own handlers). Set once in provider config. See Client Modes.
modelConsent regulatory model derived from jurisdiction: 'opt-in', 'opt-out', 'iab', or null. See Consent Models.

Regulatory Terms

TermDefinition
jurisdictionA privacy regulation code (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, QC_LAW25) detected from the user's geolocation. Maps to a consent model. See Consent Models for the full mapping table.
GPCGlobal Privacy Control — a browser signal (Sec-GPC: 1) indicating the user opts out of data sale/sharing. Honored automatically in opt-out jurisdictions.
TCFIAB Transparency and Consent Framework (v2.3) — a standard for programmatic advertising consent in GDPR jurisdictions. See IAB TCF.
GVLGlobal Vendor List — an IAB-maintained registry of ad-tech vendors and their declared purposes, used by the TCF consent flow.