# ads.txt / app-ads.txt Preflight + Drift (`checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight`) Actor Audits public ads.txt and app-ads.txt files for reachability, syntax, duplicate seller tuples, variables, and scanner-visible drift. - **URL**: https://apify.com/checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight.md - **Developed by:** [Checksmith Cats](https://apify.com/checksmithcats) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.40 / ads.txt drift report generated This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## ads.txt / app-ads.txt Preflight + Drift Audit public ads.txt and app-ads.txt supply-chain files before and after publisher or app-domain changes. ### What it checks - `/ads.txt` reachability for submitted domains - `/app-ads.txt` reachability for submitted developer domains - Seller record syntax: advertising system domain, seller account ID, relationship, and optional certification authority ID - `DIRECT` / `RESELLER` relationship values - Recognized variables such as `OWNERDOMAIN`, `MANAGERDOMAIN`, `CONTACT`, `SUBDOMAIN`, and `INVENTORYPARTNERDOMAIN` - Duplicate seller tuples - Placeholder-like seller IDs - Redirects to a different host - Compact drift between the current run and the latest baseline ### How it works Submit bare domains such as `example.com`. The Actor fetches the public file, records normalized parser signals, writes report files, and saves one compact baseline snapshot in a key-value store. On later runs it reports scanner-visible changes in reachability, final URL, seller records, variables, duplicate tuples, and related counts. ### Outputs - Dataset rows: one row per finding - `REPORT.json`: full structured report and evidence pack - `REPORT.html`: readable report - `REPORT.md`: Markdown report ### Billing Pay-per-event billing is based only on reachable public ads.txt or app-ads.txt files checked in the run. Each reachable file is one checked-file event, so submitting the same domain under both fields can produce one event for `/ads.txt` and one for `/app-ads.txt`. Invalid input and unreachable files are not charged as checked files. ### Boundary This Actor does not inspect sellers.json, discover app store developer sites, validate commercial account ownership, make invalid-traffic determinations, diagnose revenue, contact exchanges, or promise demand-platform behavior. It records public file signals observed at run time. ### Related tools - Policy Page Drift Pack - Use when ads.txt drift is one part of broader public policy-page monitoring. - Security Headers Bulk QA - Use when publisher launch checks also need response-header basics. - Agency Evidence Pack - Use when ads.txt records belong in a multi-client monthly pack. # Actor input Schema ## `domains` (type: `array`): Bare domains whose /ads.txt files should be inspected. ## `appAdsDomains` (type: `array`): Bare developer domains whose /app-ads.txt files should be inspected. ## `stateStoreName` (type: `string`): Key-value store name for the latest compact baseline snapshot. ## Actor input object example ```json { "domains": [ "example.com" ], "stateStoreName": "ads-txt-drift-preflight-state" } ```` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description ## `report` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "domains": [ "example.com" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "domains": ["example.com"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "domains": [ "example.com" ] }' | apify call checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=checksmithcats/ads-txt-drift-preflight", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "ads.txt / app-ads.txt Preflight + Drift", "description": "Audits public ads.txt and app-ads.txt files for reachability, syntax, duplicate seller tuples, variables, and scanner-visible drift.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "G5iYx1YxaoF7Llpbp" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/checksmithcats~ads-txt-drift-preflight/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-checksmithcats-ads-txt-drift-preflight", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/checksmithcats~ads-txt-drift-preflight/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-checksmithcats-ads-txt-drift-preflight", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/checksmithcats~ads-txt-drift-preflight/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-checksmithcats-ads-txt-drift-preflight", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "domains": { "title": "Domains for ads.txt", "minItems": 1, "maxItems": 200, "type": "array", "description": "Bare domains whose /ads.txt files should be inspected.", "items": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9.-]+$" } }, "appAdsDomains": { "title": "Domains for app-ads.txt", "minItems": 1, "maxItems": 200, "type": "array", "description": "Bare developer domains whose /app-ads.txt files should be inspected.", "items": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9.-]+$" } }, "stateStoreName": { "title": "State store name", "type": "string", "description": "Key-value store name for the latest compact baseline snapshot.", "default": "ads-txt-drift-preflight-state" } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```