🔎 How Ad Server Works: Overview

Ad Server (adserver.unlimitedtextads.com) is a self-hosted, dual-sided ad network built on custom PHP (no framework) and MySQL. Every member is both a publisher and an advertiser on one account: hosting other members' ads on your own site earns credits, and running your own ads spends credits.

The Core Loop

1. A publisher embeds a slot (a placement) on their site.
2. An advertiser creates an ad and funds their balance with credits.
3. When a visitor loads the publisher's page, the slot requests an ad; the system picks one and serves it.
4. The impression debits the advertiser and credits the publisher; a click debits/credits more.

Ads and creatives support four formats: text, image, audio, and video.