SIMID (Secure Interactive Media Interface Definition) is an IAB Tech Lab standard, based on HTML5, that enables advanced interactivity in video and audio advertising. The SIMID component is delivered as a separate asset within a VAST 4.x document and defines the communication protocol between the publisher's media player and the interactive layer, keeping that layer isolated from the media file.
Inventory Compatibility:
Local inventory and Programmatic inventory.
Support condition: the interactive layer renders only if the publisher's player supports SIMID. If support is absent, the ad still serves, but without the interactive layer — only the base video file plays.
Format requirements
Video
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Formats | .mp4, .webm |
| Maximum size | 100 MB |
| Delivery | progressive |
Interactive creative file
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Format | .zip |
| Archive structure |
The entry point (InteractiveCreativeFile) is selected automatically —
body.html if present in the archive, otherwise index.html,
or the first file in the archive.
|
| Recommended size | 2–5 MB |
| Delivery protocol | HTTPS, no authentication required, cacheable |
The size limit for the interactive layer follows industry practice for rich-media formats: the overlay loads in parallel with the video and must not affect the load time of the primary content.
Upload validation covers: ZIP archive integrity and compliance with the size limit. The number and names of files inside the archive are not validated — the entry-point HTML file is picked automatically using the body.html → index.html → first-file rule above. If any check fails, the system returns an error message specifying the cause.
XML file
The Platform generates a VAST tag, version 4.1+. The SIMID component is referenced via the
<InteractiveCreativeFile> element — a direct child of
<MediaFiles>, placed alongside <MediaFile>:
XML
<MediaFiles>
<MediaFile delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" width="1920" height="1080">
<![CDATA[https://cdn.example.com/video.mp4]]>
</MediaFile>
<InteractiveCreativeFile type="text/html" apiFramework="SIMID">
<![CDATA[https://cdn.example.com/simid/index.html]]>
</InteractiveCreativeFile>
</MediaFiles>
Required attributes of <InteractiveCreativeFile>: type="text/html" and apiFramework="SIMID".
Players that do not support the SIMID API ignore this element and render
<MediaFile> as a standard video creative. The presence of the tag does not
affect ad delivery when the player lacks SIMID support.
Responsibility
The SIMID component runs in an isolated iframe and has no access to the player environment. Responsibility for the creative's correct behavior — including graceful degradation when SIMID is not supported — lies with the party that builds the creative. The Platform is responsible for generating a valid, correctly structured VAST tag; how the publisher's player handles the InteractiveCreativeFile element is outside the ad server's control.
Event tracking
- View
- Confirmed view
- Click
- Start
- Progress (firstQuartile, midpoint, thirdQuartile, complete)
- Skip
- Mute/Unmute
- Pause
- Resume
- Fullscreen
- Interaction (engagement event reported via the SIMID
reportTrackingmessage)
Additional information:
- IAB SIMID specification — interactiveadvertisingbureau.github.io/SIMID
- IAB Tech Lab standard page — iabtechlab.com/standards/simid
- SIMID/OMID overview — https://adtelligent.com/blog/ad-server/what-is-simid-omid
For any questions regarding ad manuals please contact the support manager of your account.