Prebid Timeouts

Last edited: 2024/12/16

Prebid Stack requires some time to gather bids. This time is controlled by number of timeouts explained in this article.

The dependencies and flow of particular timeouts is presented on the timeline below:

<aside> <img src="/icons/link_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/link_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> Prebid documentation on timeouts: link

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GDPR / USP / GPP timeout

Prebid modules that handle passing user consent info from CMP to Bidders in a Prebid Auction rely on a timeout to wait for the CMP stub. Learn more about these modules in our article on Consent Managment.

Failsafe timeout

In Yieldbird Platform Failsafe Timeout applies to the entire Yieldbird configuration, not only to Prebid. Learn more about Failsafe timeout

Auction Delay

Auction Delay (auctionDelay) is the duration of time added after loading prebid.js but before sending bid requests to Bidders. Some User ID or Vendor Specific modules may require this delay to be extended, allowing more time for them to complete their actions.

<aside> <img src="/icons/arrow-right_green.svg" alt="/icons/arrow-right_green.svg" width="40px" />

Best practices:

• In most implementations, auctionDelay should be set to 50ms.
• Some AdOps teams use the following guideline to calculate the appropriate auctionDelay based on the number of Vendor-Specific Modules implemented for a Domain:
  • 1 Vendor-Specific Module: auctionDelay = 50ms
  • 2 Vendor-Specific Modules: auctionDelay = 100ms
  • 3 Vendor-Specific Modules: auctionDelay = 150ms, and so on.
• If you are unsure about the auctionDelay requirements for the Vendor-Specific Modules you use, we strongly recommend reaching out to the module provider directly for the most up-to-date guidance. </aside>

Setting default Auction delay

Default auction delay applies to all inventory in your Workspace unless you select value specific for particular Domain. To manage it go to Global setup > Prebid > Defaults: Timeouts.

Setting Auction delay for specific Domain

If you require more granular settings, you can adapt the Auction Timeout for particular Domains. To do that:

1. Go to Inventory > Domains > select the domain you want to edit > Prebid Stack: Auction timeout
2. Toggle <on> Customize Auction delay on this Domain
3. Set the delay that you want to apply to this Domain only
4. Click Save

Prebid Auction timeout

Prebid Auction Timeout sets the duration available for coordinating header bidding activities on the page. In other words, this is the timeframe within which Yieldbird will await for bids from SSPs that are connected to your inventory.

Setting default Prebid Auction timeout

Default Prebid auction timeout applies to all inventory in your Workspace unless you select value specific for particular Domain, (or in Old Platform’s case Page or Viewport). To manage it:

Old Platform:

Go to Setup > General > Timeouts.

Go to Global setup > Prebid > Defaults: Timeouts.

Setting the timeout for specific Domain

If you require more granular settings, you can adapt the Auction Timeout for particular Domains. To do that:

Old Platform:

1. Go to Inventory > Domains > select the domain you want to edit
2. Click Add custom settings. You will be navigated to Custom settings tab, where you can set a timeout and failsafe timeout for the particular domain.
3. Click Save
4. Go to Inventory > Domains > select the domain you want to edit > Prebid Stack: Auction timeout
5. Toggle <on> Customize Prebid Auction timeout on this Domain
6. Set the Timeout that you want to apply to this Domain only
7. Click Save

Setting the timeout for specific Page

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> This refers to Layouts

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If you require you can set timeout for specific Page only. It will override the Timeout set for Domain and default Prebid auction timeout. To do that:

Old Platform:

1. Go to: Inventory > Pages, and then edit the page you want to set a timeout for.
2. Toggle <on> Custom Timeout
3. Input the desired timeout value
4. Click Save
5. Go to Inventory > Pages > select the page for which you want to set Prebid Auction timeout > Prebid Stack: Auction timeout
6. Toggle <on> Customize Prebid Auction timeout on this Page
7. Set the Timeout that you want to apply to this Page only
8. Click Save

Setting the timeout for specific Viewport width

This functionality is available only in the Old Platform.

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> This refers to Viewports (Devices)

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If you require you can set timeout for specific size mapping. It will override the Timeout set for Domain and Timeout set for Page. To control it:

1. Go to Inventory > Domains > select the domain you want to edit > Devices
2. Toggle <on> Timeout enabled on the Device where you want to set custom timeout
3. Set the Auction Timeout that you want to apply to this Device
4. Click Save

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" />

Also read: FAQ: Which setting applies to the ad unit when the parameter is set at multiple levels?

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How to efficiently manage Prebid Auction Timeouts?

Setting this value requires careful consideration:

• if it's too brief, there isn't sufficient time for header bidding
• if it's too extended, it could decrease revenue by postponing the ad server call until after users have departed the page.

Publishers need to identify the optimal value by weighing various factors such as the average time users spend on the page, direct sell-through rates, the importance of different advertising channels, and the typical network delay experienced by users.

Typically, from our experience the efficient timeout is within 800 - 2000ms range.

Also, setting Prebid Auction timeout require to take into account Failsafe timeout as well - Generally, the recommended relationship between Prebid Auction timeout and Failsafe timeout is that Failsafe is at least 2x longer than Prebid Auction timeout. To make it easier to set it up properly Yieldbird Platform automatically validates the relationship between these two. You can also see the current setting of Failsafe timeout in the Related settings info box.

<aside> <img src="/icons/arrow-right_green.svg" alt="/icons/arrow-right_green.svg" width="40px" /> Good practice: When analyzing the results of changing Prebid Auction timeout it is recommended to:

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From our experience, once you set the right timeout you don’t have to change it frequently (unless of course you do some significant changes to the setup, especially those including changing the set of bidders.

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> See also the Guide to prebid timeouts published on our blog.

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S2S config timeout multiplier