Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Manage Cookies Component in Webflow | Web Design Tutorial

Published on
November 4, 2021

Building a Manage Cookies Component in Webflow

Webflow provides a user-friendly platform to create and customize various web elements, including a manage cookies component. In this tutorial, we will be building a manage cookies component using Webflow in four simple steps. The first step involves building the manage cookies component itself, which will allow users to choose which cookies they would like to keep and omit. Let's get started!

Step 1: Creating the Manage Cookies Component

To begin, ensure you are in the Webflow Designer. The first element we will create is the cookie manager component. Here's how to do it:

  1. Add a div block and name it "cookie manager."
  2. Set the position of the div block to "fixed."
  3. Position the div block in the bottom left corner, about 48 pixels from the left and 48 pixels from the bottom.
  4. Add an icon to the div block using a simple embed with an SVG cookie code.
  • Set the class of the embedded code to "icon."
  • Adjust the width and height of the SVG cookie to 32 pixels.
  • Set the color of the cookie to your preference.
  1. Add a padding to the div block for accessibility.

Note: It's essential to add the attribute "fscc manager" to the cookie manager component.

By following these steps, you have successfully completed the first part of creating the manage cookies component in Webflow.

Step 2: Building the Preferences Popup

Next, we will create a preferences popup. Follow the steps below to build the preferences popup in Webflow:

  1. Move to the cookie consent wrapper in the Webflow Designer.
  2. Inside the cookie consent wrapper, place a form block.
  • Set the form block as fixed position and choose "full" for positioning.
  • Ensure the form block is centered in the middle of the screen and appears above all other elements by setting the z-index to 1000.
  1. Set the background color of the form to a 70% black overlay.
  2. Customize the form by adding a white background color and adjusting the padding, max-width, and width.
  3. Add checkboxes for each cookie category within the form block and label them accordingly.
  4. Include buttons for saving preferences, allowing all cookies, and rejecting all cookies.
  • Customize the buttons to enhance the user interface and align them using flexbox.

The preferences popup is an essential element of the cookie management system that allows users to set their cookie preferences effectively.

Step 3: Adding Attributes to Components

Once the manage cookies component and preferences popup are created, it's crucial to add attributes to various elements to enhance their functionality. Here are the attributes to be added:

  1. Form Block Attribute: Add an attribute of "fscc" with a value of "preferences" to the form block.
  2. Checkbox Attributes: Add "fscc checkbox" attributes with corresponding category values (e.g., personalization, marketing, analytics) to the checkboxes.
  3. Button Attributes: Add "fscc allow" to the button allowing all cookies, "fscc submit" to the save preferences button, and "fscc deny" to the reject all cookies button.

By adding these attributes, the components gain superpowers and enable seamless management of user cookie preferences.

Step 4: Setting Attributes to Scripts

Finally, it's time to set attributes to the scripts that need to be turned on and off based on the user's preferences. Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to project settings in Webflow.
  2. Add "fscc categories" tags to the scripts corresponding to their respective cookie categories such as analytics, marketing, or personalization.
  3. Ensure that each script is tagged under the correct category to facilitate turning the scripts on and off as per user preferences.

Completing this step ensures that the cookie-ishing scripts are appropriately controlled based on the user's preferences, providing a more personalized browsing experience.

With the manage cookies component, preferences popup, and corresponding attributes in place, it's time to test the functionality of the cookie management system. Here's how to carry out the test:

  1. Set the form block and cookie manager component to "display none" in the Webflow Designer.
  2. Publish the site to apply the changes.
  3. Open the published site and observe the appearance of the cookie banner.
  4. Test the functionality by accepting or rejecting specific cookies using the preferences popup.

Upon successful testing, users should be able to adjust their cookie preferences, and the chosen settings should be saved and applied as intended.

Utilizing Visual Debugging Tool for Verification

For an added layer of assurance, consider utilizing Webflow's visual debugging tool to verify that the setup is correct. The tool helps in identifying any potential issues or attributes that may have been overlooked, ensuring a seamless cookie management system.

With these steps, you have successfully built a complete cookie management system in Webflow, allowing users to personalize their browsing experience by managing their cookie preferences effectively.