=== Stats4U Visitor Counter ===
Contributors: lukaswojcik
Tags: counter, hit counter, visitors, statistics, privacy
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.1.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A visitor counter as an image. No script, no cookie, one request.

== Description ==

The plugin puts an `<img>` on your site. Nothing else.

* **One request.** Measured at 797 bytes median over 473 designs, over the
  wire with gzip. Check it yourself at https://www.stats4u.net/weight - the
  curl command is right there.
* **No cookie.** Measured: no Set-Cookie header in any response. The image
  that is served IS the counting.
* **No script.** So it also counts for readers who turn scripts off.
* **No account.** Get a counter number at stats4u.net, type it in, done.
* **Dark mode** that follows the visitor's own setting.

A ready-made paragraph for your privacy policy is at
https://www.stats4u.net/privacy-embed - tailored to your counter number, in
eleven languages.

The plugin interface is available in English, German and Polish.

== Installation ==

1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Under *Settings -> Stats4U*, enter your counter number.
   You can get one at https://www.stats4u.net/ without signing up.
3. Either tick "show automatically in the footer" or put the shortcode
   `[stats4u]` wherever you like.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does the plugin send anything to stats4u.net while I am in the admin area? =

No. There is no call out of the admin area - only the preview image on the
settings page, and that is loaded by your browser, not by your server.

= Do I need a cookie banner? =

The image sets no cookie and reads nothing from the device. Which duties apply
to your site is a question for your jurisdiction; what actually happens is
described at https://www.stats4u.net/privacy-embed.

= What happens if stats4u.net is unreachable? =

Then one image is missing from your page, and nothing else. An `<img>` does
not block page rendering.

= What are "shape" and "palette"? =

They only apply to design 950, the adjustable counter. Pick them in the
creator at stats4u.net and copy the names out of the image address. There are
far too many to list here, and a list here would go stale.

= Does deleting the plugin delete my counter? =

No. Deleting the plugin removes its single option from your database and
nothing else. The counter belongs to you and keeps its history - your numbers
should not disappear because you tried a plugin and removed it again.

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.0 =
* Shape and palette can now be set. They were in the settings but had no
  field, so design 950 stayed on "pill" and "mint" on every site.
* Interface strings are English now, with German and Polish translations
  bundled. Until 1.0.0 the source strings were German, so WordPress showed
  German on every blog - including English and Polish ones.
* Both were found by installing the plugin in a real WordPress for the first
  time, not by reading the code.

= 1.0.0 =
* First release: shortcode, footer, dark mode, settings page.
