Demand Side Platform
A Demand Side Platform (DSP) is a software system used by advertisers and agencies to purchase digital advertising inventory across multiple ad exchanges and supply sources in an automated, programmatic way. It enables real-time bidding (RTB) on ad impressions, allowing buyers to target specific audiences, optimize campaigns, and manage budgets efficiently. DSPs provide tools for data analysis, audience segmentation, and performance tracking to maximize return on ad spend (ROAS).
Developers should learn about DSPs when working in digital advertising, marketing technology (MarTech), or data-driven applications, as they are central to programmatic advertising ecosystems. This is crucial for roles involving ad tech integration, campaign optimization, or building analytics dashboards that interface with advertising APIs. Understanding DSPs helps in developing solutions for automated bidding, audience targeting, and performance measurement in online advertising.