> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifthub.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting started with the Uplift Ads API

> How to authenticate and make ad-decision requests using the Uplift Ads API.

export const Ui = ({children}) => <span style={{
  display: "inline-flex",
  alignItems: "center",
  padding: "1px 6px",
  background: "#f7f8f8",
  border: "1px solid #e9ecef",
  borderRadius: 4,
  fontSize: "0.92em",
  fontWeight: 500,
  color: "#101213"
}}>
    {children}
  </span>;

The Uplift Ads API is the ad-server layer of the Platform 195 stack. Where the
Uplift Hub API manages your campaign data model — accounts, campaigns, and line
items — the Uplift Ads API handles delivery: requesting ad decisions for your
placements in real time.

<Note>
  Looking for the campaign management API? See
  [Getting started with the Uplift Hub API](/reference/uplift-hub-api).
</Note>

***

## Which API do I need?

| Task                                             | API                                         |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| Create or update accounts, campaigns, line items | [Uplift Hub API](/reference/uplift-hub-api) |
| Request a Native ad decision                     | Uplift Ads API — `POST /native-ad`          |
| Request a Sponsored ad decision                  | Uplift Ads API — `POST /sponsored-ad`       |
| Request a Recommender ad decision                | Uplift Ads API — `POST /recommender-ad`     |
| Request a Display ad decision                    | Uplift Ads API — `POST /display-ad`         |

***

## Getting access

Access to the Uplift Ads API is managed separately from the Uplift Hub API.
Contact your Platform 195 account manager to request credentials — they will
provide you with an API key and your Site ID.

<Note>
  No account manager yet? Email [support@uplifthub.io](mailto:support@uplifthub.io).
</Note>

***

## Authentication

Every request requires two headers:

| Header      | Description             |
| ----------- | ----------------------- |
| `x-api-key` | Your Uplift Ads API key |
| `x-site-id` | Your numeric Site ID    |

```http theme={null}
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
x-site-id: 12345
```

Requests without both headers will be rejected.

***

## Base URL

All endpoints are relative to:
[https://api.upliftads.io/v3](https://api.upliftads.io/v3)

***

## Ad types

| Endpoint               | Format      | Use when                                                                |
| ---------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `POST /native-ad`      | Native      | Rendering ads that match surrounding content — headline, image, and CTA |
| `POST /sponsored-ad`   | Sponsored   | Surfacing sponsored products within search or browse results            |
| `POST /recommender-ad` | Recommender | Showing AI-ranked product recommendations in a carousel or grid         |
| `POST /display-ad`     | Display     | Serving banner or rich-media creatives at a fixed size                  |

***

## Next steps

Browse the [Uplift Ads API Reference](/uplift-ads-api-reference) tab for the
full interactive endpoint documentation, including request and response schemas.
For implementation guides covering each ad format in detail, see the
[Uplift Ads](/uplift-ads/uplift-ads-overview) section.