Display QA | Remote load - total load vs polite load

Remote load

For third party tags, Remote Loading the process of retrieving the entire creative and its assets such as images, scripts, or other content, from a remote server or location onto a webpage (except the small initiating script or iframe snippet). 

For hosted creatives these are resources that are referenced by the files you host, for example javascript libraries or fonts.

Monitoring the Remote Load helps evaluate how efficiently an ad is delivered and whether it aligns with performance expectations, as well as providing insights into the overall impact an ad may have on page performance

Remote load is either defined as a sum of all assets loaded regardless of when the load is initiated or divided into an initial load phase and a subload phase. These ways of defining the Remote Load are called Total Load and Polite Load.

Total load

Total Load refers to the complete volume of remote assets and data that is loaded when an ad creative is displayed. It encompasses all elements, including images, scripts, and any additional content associated with the ad. Total Load is a comprehensive metric that provides insights into the overall impact an ad may have on page performance.

Polite load

Polite load refers to the remote loading of assets in two phases called Initial load and Subload. During the Initial load, only primary assets are allowed to load on a page — the rest of the assets will be allowed to load afterwards during the Subload phase.

This approach aims to enhance user experience by ensuring that critical components are loaded promptly, allowing for a smoother and less disruptive display of the ad. 

Total load vs polite load

Although different in their approach, they both measure the same overall Remote Load value — the key difference being that the Total Load mesures the overall value of the Remote Load, while the Polite load divides the Remote Load into an Initial Load phase and Subload phase. Adding together the Initial Load and Subload values gives you the same overall value as the Total Load.

You can define the way you measure the Remote Load as part of your Display Ad Specification.

More information in the article below:

Display specifications settings

Happy validating!