How Index counts impressions
When a DSP Demand-Side Platform (DSP). A software platform that automates bidding decisions in real-time and efficiently connects buyers and audiences through an ad exchange or SSP. Also known as a buy-side platform. wins an auction, Index Exchange (Index) stores the billing notification URL (burl
), which is to be sent when a billable event has occurred. Based on the ad format The format of the ad space on the publisher's site. Banner and video are kinds of ad formats., Index counts a billable event and sends the DSP burl
when the billing notification from the publisher The owner of a website or app where advertisements are served. meets the following criteria:
Format | Impression counting criteria |
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Web banner |
Index expects to receive the billing notification in the Note: You will receive the billing notification from Index as soon as we receive it from the publisher, up to the TTL. |
Mobile app banner |
Note: Index uses a TTL of 600 seconds for |
Video (instream A video ad that displays before (pre-roll), during (mid-roll), or after (post-roll) video content that the user is consuming. The video ad plays within video content, similar to watching TV with commercials. and outstream An ad placement where the video is not the focal point of the screen and plays with sound-off by default. They can display before, between, or after text, or accompanying streaming content (pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads), as an interstitial ad, or display as a standalone ad such as slideshows or native feeds.) on web, mobile app, and STV Streaming TV (STV). Video content that is shown across any device with an internet connection, for example a Connected TV (CTV). |
Index expects to receive the billing notification from our VAST Video ad-serving template (VAST). A communication standard between ad servers and video players in XML-format that describes the video player's expected behavior.
Note: You will receive the billing notification from Index as soon as we receive it from the publisher, up to the TTL. |
Native on web and mobile app |
Index expects to receive the billing notification in the Note: You will receive the billing notification from Index as soon as we receive it from the publisher, up to the TTL. |
Index does not count impressions in the following situations:
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When billing notifications don't pass our invalid traffic (IVT Invalid traffic (IVT). Traffic entering an exchange that is attempting to present itself as legitimate traffic but is determined to be fraudulent. For example, bot traffic.) standards. Index uses industry-standard IP address and UserAgent blocklists, as well as proprietary methods and data sets to filter invalid traffic.
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When the same billing notification is sent twice within a given TTL, the second notification will be discarded as a duplicate.
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When Index is previewing or testing creatives for ad quality, no impressions will be counted.
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When billing notifications are sent after Index's TTL timeout value.