---
title: How to block advertiser domain and IAB categories on Demand Hub
description: Blocking advertiser domains and categories using the OpenRTB standard is a crucial aspect of managing your ad inventory effectively. It maintains control over the type of ads displayed on your platfor
---
[Skip to content](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/blocking-advertisers-and-categories-opti-engage#main-content)
English
Show submenu for translations
[Create a ticket](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Customer portal](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/tickets-view?hsLang=en)
.png?width=150&height=56&name=Logo%20-%20BG%20White%20(1).png)
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- English
Show submenu for translations
- [Create a ticket](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new)
- [Customer portal](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/tickets-view)
- Go to www.optidigital.com
Go to www.optidigital.com
Browse the Opti Digital platform, products, and capabilities
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [Help Center](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge?hsLang=en)
2. [Demand Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en)
3. [Q&A](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#qa)
# How to block advertiser domain and IAB categories on Demand Hub
Blocking advertiser domains and categories using the OpenRTB standard is a crucial aspect of managing your ad inventory effectively. It maintains control over the type of ads displayed on your platform, improve user experience, and ensure the integrity of your content.
### Blocking Advertiser Categories
This is how to effectively block advertiser domains using the OpenRTB standard.
**Step 1. Download openRTB specifications (version 2.5)**
Before implementing domain and category blocking, it's crucial to have a basic understanding of OpenRTB. Head to Section [**3.2.1 Object: BidRequest**](https://www.iab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/OpenRTB-API-Specification-Version-2-5-FINAL.pdf)
**Step 2. Refer to IAB Content Categories (List 5.1)**
This list categorizes various types of content that advertisers might want to target. You can find the IAB content category list on the IAB website or in your OpenRTB documentation.
**Step 3. Choose Categories to Block**
Select the specific categories from List 5.1 that you want to block. These categories could include things like "IAB1" for Arts & Entertainment or "IAB7" for Health & Fitness. You can block multiple categories by including them in your 'bcat' array.
**Step 4. Implement the Blocking**
In the 'bcat' field of your OpenRTB configuration, specify the selected categories in the string array format. For example:
```
"bcat": ["IAB1", "IAB7"]
```
After implementing the 'bcat' field with your chosen categories, test and validate the blocking to ensure that ads from these categories are effectively restricted from appearing on your platform.
### Blocking advertiser domains
Blocked Advertiser Domains is a field in the OpenRTB standard. Specify the blocked advertiser domains in the string array format. For example:
```
"badv": ["example.com", "blockedadvertiser.com"]
```
This allows you to control which advertisers can display their ads on your platform and maintain the quality and relevance of the advertisements presented to your audience.
- [Ad Manager Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Overview](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#overview)
- [Getting Started & Onboarding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#getting-started-onboarding)
- [Advanced Tag Capabilities](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#advanced-tag-capabilities)
- [Ad Formats & Experiences](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#ad-formats-experiences)
- [Demand & Header Bidding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#demand-header-bidding)
- [Yield & Pricing Optimization](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#yield-pricing-optimization)
- [A/B Testing & Optimization](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#a-b-testing-optimization)
- [Insights & Analytics](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#insights-analytics)
- [Audience & Targeting](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#audience-targeting)
- [FAQs](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-manager-hub?hsLang=en#faqs)
- [Demand Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Overview](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#overview)
- [Getting Started & Onboarding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#getting-started-onboarding)
- [User Experience](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#user-experience)
- [Invoicing and payments](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#invoicing-and-payments)
- [Q&A](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/demand-hub?hsLang=en#qa)
- [Insights Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/insights-hub?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Overview](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/insights-hub?hsLang=en#overview)
- [Getting Started & Onboarding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/insights-hub?hsLang=en#getting-started-onboarding)
- [Pre-Built Analytics Dashboards](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/insights-hub?hsLang=en#pre-built-analytics-dashboards)
- [Custom Reporting](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/insights-hub?hsLang=en#custom-reporting)
- [Ad Experience Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-experience-hub?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Overview](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-experience-hub?hsLang=en#overview)
- [Getting Started & On Boarding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-experience-hub?hsLang=en#getting-started-on-boarding)
- [Ad Formats & Experiences](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/ad-experience-hub?hsLang=en#ad-formats-experiences)
- [Yield Hub](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/yield-hub?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Overview](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/yield-hub?hsLang=en#overview)
- [Getting Started & Onboarding](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/yield-hub?hsLang=en#getting-started-onboarding)
- [FAQ](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/yield-hub?hsLang=en#faq)
- [Release Notes](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/release-notes?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [2026](https://knowledge-base.optidigital.com/knowledge/release-notes?hsLang=en#2026)
[.png?width=64&height=24&name=Logo%20-%20BG%20White%20(1).png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.optidigital.com)
Help Center
Copyright © 2026, Opti Digital