OpenRTB Dynamic Native Ads

Version 1.2 of the OpenRTB Dynamic Native Ads API Specification has been finalized. Some of the added features include support for third-party ad serving, dynamic creative optimization (DCO), privacy flags, and new event tracking options. Any questions or comments for the OpenRTB Native working group can be sent to support@iabtechlab.com.

Download OpenRTB Native 1.2 Spec (PDF)


Download OpenRTB Dynamic Native Ads API 1.1 (PDF)

Release Date: March 2016

Previous Version Supporting Resources Related Documents

Overview of OpenRTB Dynamic Native Ads API 1.1

The Native Ads API 1.1 includes market-demanded improvements and features corresponding to the IAB Deep Dive on In-Feed Ad Units.  Release highlights include:

  • Further articulate semantics of the “seq” parameter
  • Creative element standardization through the creation of two new fields; Context and Placement Type

Previous Version

OpenRTB Dynamic Native Ads API 1.0 (PDF)
Release Date: February 2015
This spec describes the outer native object, which includes the ad unit (the 6 types of native ads defined by the IAB Native Advertising Playbook) and the layout. While the Native Ads API is designed to be used with OpenRTB, it provides a set of fundamentals that are useful in non-RTB environments like in-app SDK object description.


Supporting Resources

Tech Lab CodeBank: OpenRTB


The IAB Tech Lab Releases Updates To Three Programmatic Protocols (Blog Post)

IAB Tech Lab Releases Two Major Updates to OpenRTB (Blog Post)

IAB Tech Lab Releases Protocols For OpenRTB (MediaPost)


Developed by the Programmatic Supply Chain Working Group


IAB Tech Lab Contact

Jill Wittkopp
Vice President, Product
support@iabtechlab.com