Client Modes

mode in your c15t config picks how consent state is resolved and persisted.

Hosted mode (mode: 'hosted')

Default. On page load the client calls GET /init against the c15t-managed backend at backendURL. The backend resolves jurisdiction from the visitor's IP, picks the right policy pack, and returns the matched model, UI mode, translations, and categories. Consent changes are synced back to the backend.

c15t: {
  mode: 'hosted',
  backendURL: 'https://your-instance.c15t.dev',
}

Good fit for: production apps that need geo-aware UI, audit trails, and cross-device consent records. The backend is the source of truth.

Trade-offs: requires a backend. Consent sync fails are logged but not retried in the browser — the hosted infrastructure handles retry.

Offline mode (mode: 'offline')

No network calls. Consent lives entirely in localStorage and the c15t cookie. Use policy packs to preview regional behavior locally.

import { policyPackPresets } from 'c15t'

c15t: {
  mode: 'offline',
  policyPacks: [policyPackPresets.europeOptIn(), policyPackPresets.worldNoBanner()],
}

Good fit for: local development, static demos, CI snapshot tests, or very simple sites that don't need audit records.

Trade-offs: no geolocation (use countryOverride to simulate), no server-side visibility of consent, storage can be cleared by users or browsers. Strictly client-side.

Self-hosted mode (mode: 'self-hosted')

Same as hosted, but backendURL points at your own c15t deployment. nuxt-c15t treats this as hosted mode under the hood.

c15t: {
  mode: 'self-hosted',
  backendURL: 'https://consent.example.com',
}

Good fit for: regulated environments where consent records must live on your infrastructure.

How to choose

Requirement	Mode
Geo-aware banner, audit trail	hosted
No backend, local only	offline
Self-run backend	self-hosted
CI/tests, demos	offline + countryOverride

If mode !== 'offline' and backendURL is missing, nuxt-c15t falls back to offline with a console warning — so a fresh install can't hang waiting for a never-configured backend.