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PubMatic

PubMatic

Supply-side platform for programmatic video and display advertising. PubMatic connects publishers to demand-side buyers via header bidding auctions. The PubMatic script participates in Prebid.js auctions and syncs user IDs across its network for audience-targeted ad serving.

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Overview

PubMatic is a supply-side platform (SSP) for programmatic display and video advertising. It connects publishers to demand-side buyers through header bidding auctions and real-time bidding exchanges.

What This Script Does

  • Participates in Prebid.js or proprietary header bidding auctions on publisher pages
  • Sends bid requests containing page context, ad slot dimensions, and user identifiers to PubMatic's ad exchange
  • Syncs user IDs with demand-side platforms and data management platforms via cookie syncing pixels
  • Sets cookies to maintain a persistent user identifier across PubMatic's publisher network
  • Collects signals including page URL, referrer, device type, and geographic location for ad targeting

Consent & Compliance

  • Category: Marketing / Advertising
  • GDPR: Requires consent. Performs extensive cross-site user tracking, cookie syncing, and behavioral ad targeting.
  • CCPA: Cross-site identifier syncing and behavioral targeting qualifies as sale/sharing of personal information.
  • ePrivacy: Sets multiple advertising and tracking cookies. Consent required.

Should You Block This Without Consent?

Yes. This is a programmatic advertising platform that performs cross-site tracking and user ID syncing for ad targeting. Block until marketing consent is granted.

Is PubMatic GDPR compliant?

PubMatic typically loads marketing trackers, which are not strictly necessary for your site to work. Under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, non-essential cookies and trackers must stay blocked until a visitor gives clear opt-in consent. So PubMatic can be fully GDPR compliant, but only if your site holds its scripts until consent is granted and lets visitors decline just as easily. Compliance depends on how your site loads PubMatic, not on PubMatic itself.

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Consent Categories

Marketing

Also Known As

pubmaticPubMatic SSPheader biddingsupply side platformprebidprogrammatic advertising

Industries

Computers Electronics and Technology

Tracked Domains (1)

PubMatic's trackers are common, seen on about 15% of the sites ConsentStack has scanned. Scan your own site to see which of these are firing before consent.

pubmatic.comMarketing

pubmatic.com is a marketing domain operated by PubMatic, used to serve ads, build audiences, and measure ad conversions. Seen on about 15% of scanned sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Manage consent for PubMatic

ConsentStack automatically detects and manages PubMatic trackers so your site stays compliant with global privacy regulations.

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