Protocol · Knowledge Base

Understand, query, compare and validate programmatic advertising protocols. IAB Tech Lab official specs are the Source of Truth; protocol content is data-driven and wired into the on-site tools — fields feed validation and debugging, and tool issues link back to field docs.

The module keeps expanding: AdCP and Supply Chain (ads.txt / app-ads.txt / sellers.json / schain) are still planned; every other protocol is browsable now.

RTB / Auction

Auction protocols, the shared ad object model and deal context

OpenRTBReal-time bidding protocolIn progress

Bid Request / Response protocol: objects, fields, enumerations, samples and version diffs. 2.6 is covered in depth.

3.02.62.52.42.3

Related toolsJSON Inspector JSON Diff

AdCOMAd Content Object ModelIn progress

Ad Content Object Model: the object model behind OpenRTB 3.0 and the enumeration source for OpenRTB 2.x.

AdCPAd Context ProtocolPlanned

Ad Context Protocol: deal discovery and ad slot context for PMP/PG scenarios, used alongside OpenRTB.

Ad Formats

Ad format specs (Banner has no standalone spec — see the OpenRTB Banner object and MRAID)

NativeNative advertisingIn progress

OpenRTB Native Ads sub-protocol: the asset model (title/img/video/data), context and placement enumerations, event tracking and official samples. 1.2 is covered in depth.

1.21.11.0

Delivery & Interactivity

Video / rich-media delivery and creative interactivity protocols

VASTVideo Ad Serving TemplateIn progress

Video Ad Serving Template: element tree, version differences and validation rules. Audio ads are covered from 4.1, and 4.4 adds the CTV Ad Portfolio. The spec skeleton is data-driven on this site (2.0 → 4.4) and cross-checked against the official XSDs and full spec texts.

4.44.34.24.14.03.02.0

Related toolsVAST Ad Tools

VMAPVideo Multiple Ad PlaylistIn progress

Video Multiple Ad Playlist: the XML template a publisher uses to describe ad break structure when it does not control the player. Element tree, attributes and enumerations, the four timeOffset notations, error codes and the compliance checklist are ingested as data (1.0.1 as the reference version), linked with the VAST debugger.

1.0.11.0

Related toolsVAST Ad Tools

VPAIDVideo player interactivity (deprecated)Deprecated

Video Player-Ad Interface Definition: its interactivity model has been superseded by SIMID, and it now only matters for legacy traffic and old integrations.

SIMIDSecure Interactive MediaIn progress

Secure Interactive Media Interface Definition: the modern replacement for VPAID interactivity, where the creative and the player sit in separate sandboxes and talk only over postMessage. SIMID 1.2's 38 messages, WebIDL parameter structures, resolve/reject responses, the three protocol layers (data / transport / session), 36 error codes and the inconsistencies found in the official source are ingested as data, with a full 1.0 → 1.2 comparison and an online message decoder.

1.2.01.1.01.0.11.0.0

MRAIDIn-app rich mediaIn progress

Mobile Rich Media Ad Interface: the container and event standard for in-app rich media and playable creatives. The state machine, events, methods, MRAID_ENV and the 2.0→3.0 changes are ingested as data (3.0 as the reference version), linked with the MRAID panel in HTML5 Ad Tools.

3.02.0

Related toolsHTML5 Ad Tools

Measurement

Viewability and other measurement & verification standards

OMIDOpen MeasurementIn progress

Open Measurement Interface Definition: the interface for third-party viewability and verification script integration. The three parties and the in-session data flow, the session and verification client APIs, 26 enumeration groups and the JS / iOS / Android public class mapping are ingested as data (OM SDK JS 1.6.10 baseline), covering the carriage points on both the OpenRTB and VAST sides.

1.61.51.41.3

Related toolsVAST Ad Tools Network Studio

Supply Chain

Supply chain transparency: authorized sellers and payment paths

ads.txtAuthorized Digital SellersPlanned

The publisher-side file declaring authorized digital sellers.

app-ads.txtApp authorized sellersPlanned

The app-store counterpart of ads.txt.

sellers.jsonIntermediary disclosurePlanned

SSP / exchange-side disclosure of sellers and intermediary relationships.

schainSupply chain objectPlanned

The SupplyChain object inside a BidRequest (not a standalone document spec): the payment node chain and its verification.

Related toolsJSON Inspector

Privacy

Privacy and consent signals

Privacy OverviewPrivacy knowledge domain overviewIn progress

Privacy module landing page: why ad chains need privacy signals, the standards evolution timeline, the standards relation graph, current status at a glance, standards ownership and core terms.

Signals & frameworksProtocol chaptersIn progress

The protocol bodies organized into chapters by signal: the GPP envelope, TCF EU, Canadian TCF, MSPA US National and the per-state variants, USPrivacy, Google AC, GPC and the CMP API. The shell and chapter IA are complete; body text is migrated chapter by chapter.

GPP String v1.0TCF 2.2 / 2.3MSPA US National v2.0USPrivacy

Related toolsJSON Inspector Network Studio