Video Tags: A Quick Start
A video tag is a structured XML file that tells a player what to load, where media files live, and which tracking events should fire during playback. You do not need to be a developer to check one—you just need a clear way to see what it contains.
If the tag uses wrappers, the player follows each step before it reaches the final media file. That is why a clean summary of the chain is helpful during QA and troubleshooting.
The VAST Inspector helps you load a tag, view the XML in a readable format, and see whether key sections are present. Think of it as a quick health check before you share a tag or go live.
What to look for
- Does the tag load without errors?
- Is there at least one media file listed?
- Do tracking events show up as expected?
- Are there wrappers (multi-step tags) in the chain?
Quick steps
- Paste the VAST URL or XML into the VAST Inspector.
- Click “Load & Preview.”
- Review the analysis panel for structure and tracking.
- Use the event log to confirm playback signals.
Common pitfalls
The most common issues are missing media files, broken wrapper links, or tags that require authentication. If the tool shows an error, try a different tag or confirm the URL is publicly reachable.