A master video tag is a URL used by a video player to retrieve video ads. To assemble a master video tag using the correct URL parameters, refer to the tables below. Once you've assembled the tag, you can test it with the VAST suite inspector.
Example
A sample video tag, with parameters and assigned values would look something like this:
https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?env=vp&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&iu=/1234/video-demo&sz=400x300&unviewed_position_start=1&ciu_szs=728x90,300x250
You can also review and test using these sample tags.
Jump to a specific parameter in the list
Required parameters correlator description_url env gdfp_req iu output sz unviewed_position_start url |
Optional parameters ad_rule ciu_szs cmsid | vid cust_params hl msid | an nofb pp ppid rdid | idtype | is_lat rdp tfcd npa vconp vpa vpi vpmute |
Custom SDK parametersafvsz excl_cat lip max_ad_duration | min_ad_duration mridx pmad pmnd | pmxd pod ppos scor vad_type vpos wta Other SDK parameters excl_cat scor sid vad_type wta |
/live
in their path to ensure the ability to handle heavy traffic volumes, where all ad breaks are delivered at the same time.Video Solutions support both https and http. The impressions and VAST tracking URLs respect the SSL setting and will return either https or http as appropriate. Click-through and click-tracking are http since it redirects from another page.
Required parameters
The following parameters are required for all master video tags. Each of these parameters has a constant value. For example, the env
parameter always equals vp
to indicate that the request is from a video player.
Parameter | Description | Value |
---|---|---|
env |
Indicates that the request is from a video player. | vp |
gdfp_req |
Indicates that the user is on the Ad Manager schema. | 1 |
unviewed_position_start |
Setting this to 1 turns on delayed impressions for video. | 1 |
Required parameters with variable values
The following parameters are required for all master video tags. These parameters have variable values, so please refer to the description and sample values for guidance.
Parameter | Description | Sample value |
---|---|---|
output |
Output format of ad. Use Note that for VAST, if your video player uses the IMA SDK, the output parameter for a video ad request will always be set to Use |
|
iu |
Current ad unit. Follows the format:
/network_id/.../ad_unit |
/6062/videodemo |
sz |
Size of master video ad slot. Multiple sizes should be separated by the pipe ( Do not include " |
400x300 |
The value should describe the video playing on the page. Usually, it's the page that houses the video player, but could also be a page with text that describes the video.* |
URL-encoded example: Non-encoded example: |
|
url |
This is the full URL from which the ad request is being sent. On a web page, this is the URL of the page that displays the video player. In an app, this is the package name. If you use the IMA SDK, it sets the URL value automatically. If your player sets this value, the IMA SDK overwrites it and set its own value.* |
https://www.videoad.com/golf.html |
correlator |
A random positive numerical value that is shared by multiple requests coming from the same page view. The correlator is used to implement competitive exclusions, including those in cookieless environments. If the IMA SDK is used, the correlator value is set automatically. If your player attempts to set this value, the IMA SDK overwrites it with its own random value. If the IMA SDK is not used, ensure that you set this value to a truly random value that is not being reused by multiple page views. |
4345645667 |
* These parameters are not set automatically by the IMA SDK for CTVs. They need to be set manually.
Optional parameters
The following parameters are optional. These parameters have variable values, so please refer to the description and sample values for guidance.
Parameter | Description | Sample value |
---|---|---|
ad_rule |
Indicates whether to return a VAST creative or an ad rules response. If you are using ad rules, then Learn more about ad rules. |
ad_rule=0 to indicate a request for a creative (VAST)ad_rule=1 to indicate a request for an ad rules (VMAP) |
ciu_szs |
Comma-separated list of companion sizes. Pipe-separated ( |
Companion sizes: Companion sizes with a multi-size slot:
|
|
In order to target ads to video content, your master video tag needs to include both The The |
If you are building a tag for Dynamic Ad Insertion with video on demand, you should use the macros that will dynamically insert the correct |
cust_params |
Key-value parameters | Learn how to add key-value pairs to an ad tag. |
hl |
The language code used to request ads in that language. This parameter is used for language of ad selection and video ad rendering in dynamic allocation to video in Ad Exchange or AdSense Video. The language can be any ISO 639-1 (two-letter) or ISO 639-2 (three-letter) code. See a list of valid codes. If omitted, it defaults to any language with ad targeting by language in Ad Exchange. |
it |
msid |
These two parameters should be applied to all requests sent from mobile app and connected TV devices. The Most programmatic video ads require the presence of both of these values on requests from mobile app or connected TV inventory. |
msid=com.package.publisher, an=sample%20app |
nofb |
Indicates whether your ad request should not return a playlist of "video fallback" ads. Learn more about video fallback. |
&nofb=1 |
pp |
Control which creatives are eligible to serve based on the configuration set up in a video creative profile. Learn more about video creative profiles. |
pp=video_creative_profile |
ppid |
The Publisher Provided Identifier (PPID) allows publishers to send an identifier for use in frequency capping, audience segmentation and targeting, sequential ad rotation and other audience-based ad delivery controls across devices. Learn more | 12JD92JD8078S8J29SDOAKC0EF230337 |
rdid |
With native applications (not on web or mobile web), the SDK passes resettable device identifiers for user targeting into your stream requests with the parameters for Nearly all programmatic video ads require the presence of these values. |
See detailed examples of resettable device identifiers. |
rdp |
Tags an ad request to You must either specifically set |
https://.../gampad/ad?rdp=1&iu=/12345/adunit |
tfcd |
Tags an ad request for child-directed treatment. Learn more about tfcd. |
https://.../gampad/ad?tfcd=1&iu=/12345/adunit |
npa |
Tags an ad request as You must either specifically set Learn more about ad personalization. |
https://.../gampad/ad?npa=1&iu=/12345/adunit |
vconp |
Recommended per MRC Video Measurement Guidelines
Indicates whether the player intends to continuously play the content videos one after another, similar to a TV broadcast. Possible values are This parameter should be left unset if it is unknown. |
Continuous play ON:vconp=2
Continuous play OFF: |
vpa |
Recommended per MRC Video Measurement Guidelines
Indicates whether the ad starts through autoplay or click. Possible values are This parameter should be left unset if it is unknown. |
Autoplay:vpa=auto
Click: |
vpi |
The video playlist inred parameter indicates whether to serve inline VMAP (return VAST inside of VMAP). This can be used to reduce latency, and guarantee frequency caps and competive exclusions across a video stream. Possible values are |
Return VAST:vpi=1
Return redirects: |
vpmute |
Recommended per MRC Video Measurement Guidelines
Indicates whether the ad playback starts while the video player is muted. Possible values are This parameter should be left unset if it is unknown. |
Muted:vpmute=1
Unmuted: |
Custom SDK parameters
The current Ad Manager architecture requires that video ad requests include information about ads previously shown in the stream and on the page. This information helps build a picture of past activity while accounting for ad exclusions and duplicates.
SDK parameters related to sizes, ad rules, and video positions
Parameter | Description | Sample value | Required |
---|---|---|---|
afvsz |
Comma-separated list of non-linear ad sizes that can be displayed in the video ad slot. These sizes must be any of the those supported:
Note: When using the IMA SDK, this field will be overwritten, populated with all supported sizes that fall within the nonLinearAdSlotWidth and nonLinearAdSlotHeight. |
All sizes are supported: Max width is e.g. 250: Max height is e.g. 80: Max width is e.g. 100: |
No, parameter can be left out or empty when no non-linear sizes are supported. |
pod |
Represents a pod within a video. Pass &pod=1 for first pod, &pod=2 for second pod, and so on. Used for competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features. |
3 |
No, but must be passed for features such as competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features to work correctly. |
ppos |
Represents position within a pod. Necessary for companion autofill. Pass This parameter is for standard pods only. |
2 |
No, but must be passed for features such as competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features to work correctly. |
vpos |
Indicates whether the ad request is being sent from pre-roll, mid-roll or post-roll | preroll midroll postroll |
No |
mridx |
Number-based index that indicates from which mid-roll a request is made (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) | 2 |
No |
lip |
Needs to be added for a request from the last position in a pod. This parameter is for standard pods only. |
true |
Yes (for standard pods) |
min_ad_duration max_ad_duration |
Taken together, these specify the duration range that an ad must match, in milliseconds. Used to request a single ad. |
15000 30000 |
No |
pmnd pmxd |
Taken together, these specify the duration range that a pod must match, in milliseconds. Used to request multiple ads (i.e., pods). * |
0 60000 |
Yes (for optimized pods) |
pmad |
Max number of ads in a pod * | 4 | No |
* These parameters are specific to optimized pods, which are available to publishers with an advanced video package. They also should not be used for VMAP (when ad_rule=1
).
Other SDK parameters
Parameter | Description | Sample value | Required |
---|---|---|---|
excl_cat |
Ad exclusion category. Blocks any line items containing the exclusion label in question from being eligible for a given ad request; works with cust_params . |
custom_params=excl_cat |
No |
scor |
An integer generated for each video stream; the number needs to be the same within a stream and unique within a page view. Used for competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features if a user is watching multiple videos on the same page. | 17 |
No, but must be passed for features such as competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features to work correctly. |
sid |
A session ID is a type of privacy-preserving advertising identifier that can be used for frequency capping purposes only. Per the IAB's IFA guidelines, this parameter should be populated in UUID format. Learn more | 123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000 |
No, but must be passed for features such as competitive exclusions, frequency capping, and related features, to work on CTV/OTT platforms when PPID or other user IDs (typically RDID on CTV/OTT) are not present in the request, or when "Limit Ad Tracking" (LAT) is enabled for a user (is_lat=1 ). |
vad_type |
Indicates whether a linear or non-linear ad should be returned for the request | linear nonlinear |
No |
wta |
The value indicates the video player's support for rendering "Why this Ad?".
This is supported automatically when using the IMA SDK. When the IMA SDK is not used, video players must implement VAST This field is required if you use Ad Exchange. Learn more |
Supported:1 Unsupported: 0 |
No, but must be set accurately if you use Ad Exchange. |