Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)
Trade organization developing standards and best practices for digital advertising across platforms.
Definition
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is the trade organization for digital advertising, developing standards, best practices, and research that shape the industry. Membership includes publishers, platforms, agencies, and brands participating in digital advertising.
IAB initiatives address ad formats, measurement standards, privacy frameworks, and emerging technologies. The organization's working groups develop specifications that become industry standard, from display ad sizes to programmatic protocols.
Why It Matters
IAB standards define how digital advertising operates. Compliance with IAB specifications ensures compatibility across platforms while participation in development shapes future standards.
For advertisers and publishers, IAB research provides benchmarks and best practices that inform strategy. Understanding industry direction helps organizations prepare for evolving practices.
Examples in Practice
IAB format standards ensure a brand's display creative renders correctly across thousands of publishers without custom development.
Participation in IAB privacy frameworks helps a publisher implement compliant practices that maintain advertising revenue as regulations evolve.
IAB research on emerging channels informs media planning, with industry data validating investment in growing formats.