VAST Testing

VAST Video Ad Preview

How to preview VAST video ads using the Ad Me In VAST tester tool

VAST previewVAST testingVideo ad tester

How the Video Preview Works

When you test a VAST tag in VAST Tester Tool, we generate a live video preview so you can see exactly how the ad would render in a real player environment. The preview is powered by the Google IMA SDK, which is one of the most widely used ad playback frameworks in the industry.


Step-by-Step Process

  1. Player Initialization

    • When you enter a VAST tag and click Preview, our tool loads a standard HTML5 video player embedded with the Google IMA SDK.
    • The SDK is responsible for handling all the ad playback logic, including fetching, parsing, and rendering the creative.
  2. VAST Tag Request

    • The SDK sends a request to the ad server using the exact VAST tag you provided.
    • Any macros in the tag (such as timestamp, cachebuster, or device_id) are resolved or passed as-is, depending on the ad server setup.
  3. Response Handling

    • The ad server returns a VAST XML response, which may include media files, tracking pixels, and other instructions (wrappers, companions, skip settings, etc.).
    • The SDK validates the response and selects the appropriate media file to play based on the preview environment (desktop browser).
  4. Ad Playback

    • The chosen creative (video ad file) is loaded and played inside the preview window.
    • You will see the same visual experience that an end user would: the ad starts, plays for its duration, and any interactive elements (like skip buttons, clickthrough overlays, or companion banners) are displayed if available.
  5. Event Tracking

    • Behind the scenes, the SDK also fires tracking beacons (impression, quartiles, complete, errors, etc.) exactly as they would in a production environment.
    • Our tester logs these events for you so you can confirm whether all tracking is firing correctly.
  6. Ad Info Display

    • The ad information (such as Duration, Format, Resolution, Ad System, Interactive, Companion Ads and Clickthrough URL) is displayed alongside the video player for your reference.

What You’ll See as a User

  • A video ad plays in the preview window, starting automatically.
  • If the ad is skippable, the skip button will appear after the defined delay.
  • Clickthrough actions (e.g., tapping on the ad) will open a new tab with the advertiser’s landing page.
  • Companion creatives, if defined, may appear in the results card under the player.
  • Once the ad completes, the player resets and is ready for another test.

Need more help?

Check out our other help articles or contact support.

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