Set up the IMA SDK

started monetizing your video content with ads.

IMA SDKs make it easy to integrate multimedia ads into your websites and apps. IMA SDKs can request ads from any VAST-compliant ad server and manage ad playback in your apps. With IMA client-side SDKs, you maintain control of content video playback, while the SDK handles ad playback. Ads play in a separate video player positioned on top of the app's content video player.

This guide demonstrates how to integrate the IMA SDK into a video player app. If you would like to view or follow along with a completed sample integration, download the BasicExample from GitHub.

Note: For information on integrating with other platforms, or on using the IMA DAI SDKs, see Interactive Media Ads SDKs.

IMA client-side overview

Implementing IMA client-side involves four main SDK components, which are demonstrated in this guide:

• IMAAdDisplayContainer: A container object that specifies where IMA renders ad UI elements and measures viewability, including Active View and Open Measurement.
• IMAAdsLoader: An object that requests ads and handles events from ads request responses. You should only instantiate one ads loader, which can be reused throughout the life of the application.
• IMAAdsRequest: An object that defines an ads request. Ads requests specify the URL for the VAST ad tag, as well as additional parameters, such as ad dimensions.
• IMAAdsManager: An object that contains the response to the ads request, controls ad playback, and listens for ad events fired by the SDK.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need the following:

• Xcode 13 or later
• CocoaPods (preferred), Swift Package Manager, or a downloaded copy of the IMA SDK for iOS

1. Create a new Xcode project

In Xcode, create a new iOS project using Objective-C or Swift. Use BasicExample as the project name.

2. Add the IMA SDK to the Xcode project

Install the SDK using CocoaPods (recommended)

CocoaPods is a dependency manager for Xcode projects and is the recommended method for installing the IMA SDK. For more information on installing or using CocoaPods, see the CocoaPods documentation. Once you have CocoaPods installed, use the following instructions to install the IMA SDK:

1. In the same directory as your BasicExample.xcodeproj file, create a text file called Podfile, and add the following configuration:

   Objective-C

   source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
   
   platform :ios, '12'
   
   target "BasicExample" do
     pod 'GoogleAds-IMA-iOS-SDK', '~> 3.26.1'
   end
   Podfile
   

   Swift

   source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
   
   platform :ios, '12'
   
   target "BasicExample" do
     pod 'GoogleAds-IMA-iOS-SDK', '~> 3.26.1'
   end
   Podfile
   

2. From the directory that contains the Podfile, run pod install --repo-update.

3. Verify that the installation was successful by opening the BasicExample.xcworkspace file and confirming that it contains two projects: BasicExample and Pods (the dependencies installed by CocoaPods).

Install the SDK using Swift Package Manager

The Interactive Media Ads SDK supports Swift Package Manager starting in version 3.18.4. To import the Swift package, complete the following steps:

Note: If migrating from a CocoaPods-based project, run pod deintegrate to remove CocoaPods from your Xcode project. The CocoaPods-generated .xcworkspace file can safely be deleted afterward. If you're adding the Interactive Media Ads SDK to a project for the first time, this step can be ignored.

1. In Xcode, install the IMA SDK Swift Package by navigating to File > Add Package Dependencies....

2. In the prompt, search for the IMA iOS SDK Swift Package GitHub repository: swift-package-manager-google-interactive-media-ads-ios.

3. Select the version of the IMA SDK Swift Package you want to use. For new projects, we recommend using the Up to Next Major Version.

Once you're finished, Xcode resolves your package dependencies and downloads them in the background. For more details on how to add package dependencies, see Apple's article.

Manually download and install the SDK

If you don't want to use Swift Package Manager or CocoaPods, you can download the IMA SDK and manually add it to your project.

Show/hide instructions

1. From the iOS IMA Download page, download and extract the latest version of the iOS IMA SDK.
2. Open BasicExample.xcodeproj.
3. In the left pane, click the project name.
   
4. In the center pane, click Build Phases.
   
5. Expand the Link Binary With Libraries section.
6. At the bottom of the libraries list, click the plus icon [+].
7. Click Add Other.
8. In the directory where you extracted the downloaded SDK, select GoogleInteractiveMediaAds.framework and click Open.
9. At the bottom of the libraries list, click the plus icon [+] again.
10. In the Status column, verify that GoogleInteractiveMediaAds.framework is set to Required.
11. Include the -ObjC linker flag in your build settings. For more information, see Apple QA1490.

3. Create a video player

First, implement a video player. Initially, this player does not use the IMA SDK and doesn't contain any method to trigger playback.

Objective-C

Import the player dependencies:

#import "ViewController.h"

@import AVFoundation;
ViewController.m

Set up the player variables:

@interface ViewController () <IMAAdsLoaderDelegate, IMAAdsManagerDelegate>

/// Content video player.
@property(nonatomic, strong) AVPlayer *contentPlayer;

/// Play button.
@property(nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UIButton *playButton;

/// UIView in which we will render our AVPlayer for content.
@property(nonatomic, weak) IBOutlet UIView *videoView;
ViewController.m

Initiate the video player when the view loads:

@implementation ViewController

// The content URL to play.
NSString *const kTestAppContentUrl_MP4 =
    @"https://storage.googleapis.com/gvabox/media/samples/stock.mp4";

// Ad tag
NSString *const kTestAppAdTagUrl = @"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?"
  @"iu=/21775744923/external/single_ad_samples&sz=640x480&cust_params=sample_ct%3Dlinear&"
  @"ciu_szs=300x250%2C728x90&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&"
  @"correlator=";

- (void)viewDidLoad {
  [super viewDidLoad];

  self.playButton.layer.zPosition = MAXFLOAT;

  [self setupAdsLoader];
  [self setUpContentPlayer];
}

#pragma mark Content Player Setup

- (void)setUpContentPlayer {
  // Load AVPlayer with path to our content.
  NSURL *contentURL = [NSURL URLWithString:kTestAppContentUrl_MP4];
  self.contentPlayer = [AVPlayer playerWithURL:contentURL];

  // Create a player layer for the player.
  AVPlayerLayer *playerLayer = [AVPlayerLayer playerLayerWithPlayer:self.contentPlayer];

  // Size, position, and display the AVPlayer.
  playerLayer.frame = self.videoView.layer.bounds;
  [self.videoView.layer addSublayer:playerLayer];

  // Set up our content playhead and contentComplete callback.
  self.contentPlayhead = [[IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead alloc] initWithAVPlayer:self.contentPlayer];
  [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
                                           selector:@selector(contentDidFinishPlaying:)
                                               name:AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTimeNotification
                                             object:self.contentPlayer.currentItem];
}

- (IBAction)onPlayButtonTouch:(id)sender {
  [self requestAds];
  self.playButton.hidden = YES;
}
ViewController.m

Swift

Import the player dependencies:

import AVFoundation
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

Set up the player variables:

class PlayerContainerViewController: UIViewController, IMAAdsLoaderDelegate, IMAAdsManagerDelegate {
  static let contentURL = URL(
    string: "https://storage.googleapis.com/gvabox/media/samples/stock.mp4")!

  private var contentPlayer = AVPlayer(url: PlayerContainerViewController.contentURL)

  private lazy var playerLayer: AVPlayerLayer = {
    AVPlayerLayer(player: contentPlayer)
  }()
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

Initiate the video player when the view loads:

private lazy var videoView: UIView = {
  let videoView = UIView()
  videoView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
  view.addSubview(videoView)

  NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
    videoView.bottomAnchor.constraint(
      equalTo: view.safeAreaLayoutGuide.bottomAnchor),
    videoView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.safeAreaLayoutGuide.topAnchor),
    videoView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.safeAreaLayoutGuide.trailingAnchor),
    videoView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.safeAreaLayoutGuide.leadingAnchor),
  ])
  return videoView
}()

// MARK: - View controller lifecycle methods

override func viewDidLoad() {
  super.viewDidLoad()

  videoView.layer.addSublayer(playerLayer)
  adsLoader.delegate = self

  NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    self,
    selector: #selector(contentDidFinishPlaying(_:)),
    name: .AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTime,
    object: contentPlayer.currentItem)
}

override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
  super.viewDidAppear(animated)
  playerLayer.frame = videoView.layer.bounds
}

override func viewWillTransition(
  to size: CGSize, with coordinator: UIViewControllerTransitionCoordinator
) {
  coordinator.animate { _ in
    // do nothing
  } completion: { _ in
    self.playerLayer.frame = self.videoView.layer.bounds
  }
}

// MARK: - Public methods

func playButtonPressed() {
  requestAds()
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

4. Import the IMA SDK

To import the IMA SDK, do the following:

Objective-C

1. Import the IMA SDK:

   @import GoogleInteractiveMediaAds;
   ViewController.m
   

2. Create variables for the IMAAdsLoader, IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead, and IMAAdsManager classes used in the app:

   // SDK
   /// Entry point for the SDK. Used to make ad requests.
   @property(nonatomic, strong) IMAAdsLoader *adsLoader;
   
   /// Playhead used by the SDK to track content video progress and insert mid-rolls.
   @property(nonatomic, strong) IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead *contentPlayhead;
   
   /// Main point of interaction with the SDK. Created by the SDK as the result of an ad request.
   @property(nonatomic, strong) IMAAdsManager *adsManager;
   ViewController.m
   

Swift

1. Import the IMA SDK:

   import GoogleInteractiveMediaAds
   PlayerContainerViewController.swift
   

2. Create variables for the IMAAdsLoader, IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead, and IMAAdsManager classes used in the app:

   static let adTagURLString =
     "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/21775744923/external/"
     + "single_ad_samples&sz=640x480&cust_params=sample_ct%3Dlinear&ciu_szs=300x250%2C728x90&"
     + "gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&correlator="
   
   private let adsLoader = IMAAdsLoader()
   private var adsManager: IMAAdsManager?
   
   private lazy var contentPlayhead: IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead = {
     IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead(avPlayer: contentPlayer)
   }()
   PlayerContainerViewController.swift
   

5. Implement content playhead tracker and end-of-stream observer

In order to play mid-roll ads, the IMA SDK needs to track the current position of your video content. To do this, create a class that implements IMAContentPlayhead. If you're using an AVPlayer, as shown in this example, the SDK provides the IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead class which does this for you. If you're not using AVPlayer, you'll need to implement IMAContentPlayhead on a class of your own.

You also need to let the SDK know when your content is done playing so it can display post-roll ads. This is done by calling the contentComplete method on the IMAAdsLoader, using AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTimeNotification.

Objective-C

Create the IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead instance in the player setup:

// Set up our content playhead and contentComplete callback.
self.contentPlayhead = [[IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead alloc] initWithAVPlayer:self.contentPlayer];
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
                                         selector:@selector(contentDidFinishPlaying:)
                                             name:AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTimeNotification
                                           object:self.contentPlayer.currentItem];
ViewController.m

Create the contentDidFinishPlaying() method to call IMAAdsLoader.contentComplete() when the content finishes playing:

- (void)contentDidFinishPlaying:(NSNotification *)notification {
  // Make sure we don't call contentComplete as a result of an ad completing.
  if (notification.object == self.contentPlayer.currentItem) {
    [self.adsLoader contentComplete];
  }
}
ViewController.m

Swift

Create the content ended observer in the player setup:

NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
  self,
  selector: #selector(contentDidFinishPlaying(_:)),
  name: .AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTime,
  object: contentPlayer.currentItem)
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

Create the contentDidFinishPlaying() method to call IMAAdsLoader.contentComplete() when the content finishes playing:

@objc func contentDidFinishPlaying(_ notification: Notification) {
  // Make sure we don't call contentComplete as a result of an ad completing.
  if notification.object as? AVPlayerItem == contentPlayer.currentItem {
    adsLoader.contentComplete()
  }
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

6. Initialize the ads loader and make an ads request

In order to request a set of ads, you need to create an IMAAdsLoader instance. This loader can be used to process IMAAdsRequest objects associated with a specified ad tag URL.

As a best practice, only maintain one instance of IMAAdsLoader for the entire lifecycle of your app. To make additional ad requests, create a new IMAAdsRequest object, but re-use the same IMAAdsLoader. For more information, see the IMA SDK FAQ.

Objective-C

- (void)setupAdsLoader {
  self.adsLoader = [[IMAAdsLoader alloc] initWithSettings:nil];
  self.adsLoader.delegate = self;
}

- (void)requestAds {
  // Create an ad display container for ad rendering.
  IMAAdDisplayContainer *adDisplayContainer =
      [[IMAAdDisplayContainer alloc] initWithAdContainer:self.videoView
                                          viewController:self
                                          companionSlots:nil];
  // Create an ad request with our ad tag, display container, and optional user context.
  IMAAdsRequest *request = [[IMAAdsRequest alloc] initWithAdTagUrl:kTestAppAdTagUrl
                                                adDisplayContainer:adDisplayContainer
                                                   contentPlayhead:self.contentPlayhead
                                                       userContext:nil];
  [self.adsLoader requestAdsWithRequest:request];
}
ViewController.m

Swift

private func requestAds() {
  // Create ad display container for ad rendering.
  let adDisplayContainer = IMAAdDisplayContainer(
    adContainer: videoView, viewController: self, companionSlots: nil)
  // Create an ad request with our ad tag, display container, and optional user context.
  let request = IMAAdsRequest(
    adTagUrl: PlayerContainerViewController.adTagURLString,
    adDisplayContainer: adDisplayContainer,
    contentPlayhead: contentPlayhead,
    userContext: nil)

  adsLoader.requestAds(with: request)
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

7. Set up an ads loader delegate

On a successful load event, the IMAAdsLoader calls the adsLoadedWithData method of its assigned delegate, passing it an instance of IMAAdsManager. You can then initialize the ads manager, which loads the individual ads, as defined by the response to the ad tag URL.

In addition, be sure to handle any errors that may occur during the loading process. If ads don't load, make sure that media playback continues, without ads, so as to not interfere with the user's experience.

Objective-C

- (void)adsLoader:(IMAAdsLoader *)loader adsLoadedWithData:(IMAAdsLoadedData *)adsLoadedData {
  // Grab the instance of the IMAAdsManager and set ourselves as the delegate.
  self.adsManager = adsLoadedData.adsManager;
  self.adsManager.delegate = self;
  // Create ads rendering settings to tell the SDK to use the in-app browser.
  IMAAdsRenderingSettings *adsRenderingSettings = [[IMAAdsRenderingSettings alloc] init];
  adsRenderingSettings.linkOpenerPresentingController = self;
  // Initialize the ads manager.
  [self.adsManager initializeWithAdsRenderingSettings:adsRenderingSettings];
}

- (void)adsLoader:(IMAAdsLoader *)loader failedWithErrorData:(IMAAdLoadingErrorData *)adErrorData {
  // Something went wrong loading ads. Log the error and play the content.
  NSLog(@"Error loading ads: %@", adErrorData.adError.message);
  [self.contentPlayer play];
}
ViewController.m

Swift

func adsLoader(_ loader: IMAAdsLoader, adsLoadedWith adsLoadedData: IMAAdsLoadedData) {
  // Grab the instance of the IMAAdsManager and set ourselves as the delegate.
  adsManager = adsLoadedData.adsManager
  adsManager?.delegate = self

  // Create ads rendering settings and tell the SDK to use the in-app browser.
  let adsRenderingSettings = IMAAdsRenderingSettings()
  adsRenderingSettings.linkOpenerPresentingController = self

  // Initialize the ads manager.
  adsManager?.initialize(with: adsRenderingSettings)
}

func adsLoader(_ loader: IMAAdsLoader, failedWith adErrorData: IMAAdLoadingErrorData) {
  if let message = adErrorData.adError.message {
    print("Error loading ads: \(message)")
  }
  contentPlayer.play()
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

8. Set up an ads manager delegate

Lastly, to manage events and state changes, the ads manager needs a delegate of its own. The IMAAdManagerDelegate has methods to handle ad events and errors, as well as methods to trigger play and pause on your video content.

Start playback

Listen for the LOADED event to start playback of content and ads. For more details, see didReceiveAdEvent.

Objective-C

- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdEvent:(IMAAdEvent *)event {
  // When the SDK notified us that ads have been loaded, play them.
  if (event.type == kIMAAdEvent_LOADED) {
    [adsManager start];
  }
}
ViewController.m

Swift

func adsManager(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager, didReceive event: IMAAdEvent) {
  // When the SDK notifies us the ads have been loaded, play them.
  if event.type == IMAAdEventType.LOADED {
    adsManager.start()
  }
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

Handle errors

Add a handler for ad errors as well. If an error occurs, like in the previous step, resume content playback.

Objective-C

- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdError:(IMAAdError *)error {
  // Something went wrong with the ads manager after ads were loaded. Log the error and play the
  // content.
  NSLog(@"AdsManager error: %@", error.message);
  [self.contentPlayer play];
}
ViewController.m

Swift

func adsManager(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager, didReceive error: IMAAdError) {
  // Something went wrong with the ads manager after ads were loaded.
  // Log the error and play the content.
  if let message = error.message {
    print("AdsManager error: \(message)")
  }
  contentPlayer.play()
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

Listen for play and pause events

The last two delegate methods you need to implement are used to trigger play and pause events on the underlying video content, when requested by the IMA SDK. Triggering pause and play when requested prevents the user from missing portions of the video content when ads are displayed.

Objective-C

- (void)adsManagerDidRequestContentPause:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
  // The SDK is going to play ads, so pause the content.
  [self.contentPlayer pause];
}

- (void)adsManagerDidRequestContentResume:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
  // The SDK is done playing ads (at least for now), so resume the content.
  [self.contentPlayer play];
}
ViewController.m

Swift

func adsManagerDidRequestContentPause(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager) {
  // The SDK is going to play ads, so pause the content.
  contentPlayer.pause()
}

func adsManagerDidRequestContentResume(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager) {
  // The SDK is done playing ads (at least for now), so resume the content.
  contentPlayer.play()
}
PlayerContainerViewController.swift

That's it! You're now requesting and displaying ads with the IMA SDK. To learn about additional SDK features, see the other guides or the samples on GitHub.

Next Steps

To maximize ad revenue on the iOS platform, request App Transparency and Tracking permission to use IDFA.