Learning Track

OpenRTB Deep Dive

Understand bidstream contracts, decode requests quickly, and spot malformed fields.

Why it matters

OpenRTB is the shared language between DSPs/SSPs. TAMs use it to troubleshoot bids, spot compliance issues, and explain auction outcomes.

- OpenRTB 2.5 (or 2.6) spec: imp, device, user, regs, source

- IAB Transparency & Consent string mapping to regs/user

- One SSP sample bid request/response JSON

- Decode 50 bid requests; annotate each field with meaning and examples.

- Find 10 malformed or missing fields (geo, ua, consent, device ID, imp.media).

- Write a one-page glossary explaining the top 30 fields to a non-engineer.

- Create a “red flags” checklist for malformed bids.

- openrtb-glossary.md, issues-log.csv, decoded-bid.json

- Slide with 3 common failure patterns (bad geo, missing consent, wrong device type).

- IAB Tech Lab OpenRTB 2.5/2.6 spec

- IAB CCPA/GDPR in bid requests

- Example SSP bid logs (use your sandbox/log exports)