Your curiosity, your collection.
Privacy notice · October 2, 2026
ExplainerTools is a directory of interactive explainers and educational media. You can browse without an account. This page describes the data used by the directory and its optional features.
Bookmarks and likes
ExplainerTools uses Clerk to sign you in and stores your bookmarks and likes with your account identifier. Bookmarks are private. Only aggregate bookmark and like counts appear in public rankings.
New bookmarks and likes require an account. Older bookmarks previously saved on this device may still appear, but do not add to public rankings. Clearing this site’s browser data removes that older local collection.
Views and essential storage
The directory uses an anonymous browser cookie to recognize repeat views and avoid counting the same browser repeatedly for the same explainer. Hosting and authentication providers may process technical request data needed to run and protect their services.
Suggestions
If you suggest an explainer, we store its title, link, subject, and your description in a review queue. If you include an email address, it is used only to follow up on your suggestion. Suggestions are reviewed before publication; an optional email notification may be sent to the site operator using Resend.
Optional analytics
If you choose to allow optional analytics, Google Analytics and PostHog help us understand aggregate visits and how the directory is used. They are not loaded or sent events before you allow them. You can change this choice using Analytics preferences in the footer. We do not send search text, suggestion email addresses, submitted links, or signed-in account identifiers to these analytics tools. Analytics is disabled when your browser sends Global Privacy Control or a Do Not Track preference. ExplainerTools does not enable advertising personalization or session replay.
Creator websites and preview images
Supported explainers play inside an embedded creator website or video player. Opening one sends requests to that provider, which has its own privacy practices; YouTube and X embeds may use their own storage. The optional original-source link opens the creator’s website in a new tab. Preview images may also load from creator websites; image requests omit the page’s referrer.
Learning with children
The directory is intended for adults exploring educational resources with children and for curious learners. An account is not required to browse. Please do not include a child’s personal information in suggestions. External explainers may have their own account requirements, content, and privacy practices.
Your choices
You can remove individual likes and bookmarks using the same controls that add them. Use the account menu to manage your Clerk account when sign-in is enabled. You can clear local data through your browser settings, turn optional analytics off in Analytics preferences, or browse without signing in. Turning analytics off stops future analytics events and removes this site’s readable Google Analytics cookies and local analytics session identifier; it does not delete events already received by providers.
Questions about a specific explainer should go to its credited creator. For an issue with a catalog entry, use the directory’s suggestion form and include the original link and a short description.