Index Exchange DSP

Index Exchange, also written as Index or IX, runs a sell-side ad exchange. This profile covers the requests Index sends to demand-side platforms and the responses DSPs return. Supply sent into Index is the separate index-exchange-seller profile.

Direction and version

Index sends bid requests to DSPs, and DSPs return bid responses to Index.

The DSP guide does not pin one OpenRTB version; it describes 2.6 fields with AdCOM 1.0 lists and Native 1.2. Flags are 0 or 1 integers, and Native requests are JSON strings in imp.native.request.

The RTBlint profile index-exchange checks requests and responses against the published contract.

Rules beyond the OpenRTB spec

Index prices requests in USD: cur and bidfloorcur are always USD.
Second-price auctions (at 2) are not supported. Deals use at 1 or 3, where 3 is a fixed price.
Responses need adomain unless the impression is passed on, and each advertiser domain is limited to 128 characters.
seatbid.seat is required by default and holds a numeric seat ID. Index can turn the requirement off for a DSP.
Banner creative dimensions must match one of the fixed sizes offered in imp.banner.format.
Native markup in adm must be wrapped in an outer native object.
A SKAdNetwork response must use a network ID the request offered, and bid.ext.skadn.itunesitem must match bid.bundle.
When billing notices are enabled, burl must contain ${AUCTION_PRICE}, and only impressions tracked through burl are billable.
Deal discounts in imp.pmp.deals[].ext.disc are fractions from 0.01 to 1.0, and probability metrics in imp.metric run from 0.0 to 1.0.
DSA names in bid.ext.dsa are limited to 100 characters. If the request is secure and adm loads insecure content, Index discards the impression.

Documented extensions

Path	Meaning
`source.ext.sourceType`	How the request reached Index: 1 not header bidding, 2 client-side, 3 server-side.
`source.ext.sourceOrigin`	Where the request came from, such as direct, another SSP, Amazon TAM, Google Open Bidding, Prebid, or the IX wrapper.
`source.ext.omidpn`	Open Measurement partner name.
`imp.pmp.deals[].ext.disc`	Discount applied to the deal.
`imp.ext.skadn`	SKAdNetwork request data; raw network IDs preferably go in `skadnetlist.addl`.
`device.ext.ifv`	iOS identifier for vendors.
`device.ext.atts`	App Tracking Transparency status.
`regs.ext.dsa`	Digital Services Act requirements.
`user.ext.consent`	TCF consent string in its legacy location.
`user.eids[].ext.rtipartner`	Name of the identity provider.
`bid.ext.skadn`	SKAdNetwork response data.
`bid.ext.dsa`	DSA transparency returned by the buyer.

What the validator checks for this profile

openrtb.profile.index.adomain_expected Index expects adomain unless the impression is passed on; that exception needs integration context.
openrtb.profile.index.adomain_length Index advertiser domains allow at most 128 characters.
openrtb.profile.index.banner_size_unoffered The banner creative dimensions must match an offered fixed format.
openrtb.profile.index.currency Index's published DSP requests use USD.
openrtb.profile.index.deal_discount Index deal discounts are fractions from 0.01 through 1.0.
openrtb.profile.index.dsa_length Index DSA names allow at most 100 characters.
openrtb.profile.index.metric_probability Index probability metrics must be from 0.0 through 1.0.
openrtb.profile.index.native_wrapper Index native bid markup requires an outer native object.
openrtb.profile.index.seat_expected Index normally requires seat, but can disable it per DSP; account configuration is unavailable.
openrtb.profile.index.skad_bundle SKAdNetwork itunesitem must match bid.bundle.
openrtb.profile.index.skad_network The SKAdNetwork response network must match an offered request ID.

Validate against this contract

Open the tester with the Index Exchange DSP profile, or run:

rtblint validate --profile index-exchange request.json