Skip to main content

ID5

ID5

DirectionDestination
Environment
Web
Capability
Identity Signal
SDK RequiredYes
Product(s) RequiredCore Platform

ID5 is a privacy-first universal identity platform that helps publishers maximize programmatic revenue through persistent cross-site user recognition.

Overview

ID5 provides a universal identifier that enables publishers to identify users across different websites and platforms without relying on third-party cookies or deterministic identifiers like hashed emails. The ID5 integration with Permutive allows publishers to deploy ID5’s identity solution through the Permutive SDK without additional implementation work. This integration is a Destination integration:
  • Destination: Permutive retrieves ID5’s ephemeral identity envelopes and passes them to the programmatic bidstream via Prebid or Amazon Publisher Services (APS), enabling demand-side platforms (DSPs) to recognize users and improve match rates.
Key features of the ID5 integration:
  • Probabilistic Matching: Identifies users across domains without requiring hashed emails
  • No-Code Integration: Enable via Permutive dashboard without additional implementation
  • Privacy-First: Ephemeral envelopes for bidstream use only, with automatic TCF consent handling
Use cases include:
  • Yield Optimization: Enrich programmatic bids with ID5 identifiers to increase CPMs and fill rates
  • Maximize addressability in a cookie-restricted environment
ID5 identifiers are not ingested into Permutive’s identity graph. They are ephemeral signals generated at bid time and passed directly to the bidstream. These IDs cannot be used for Permutive cohort building, identity resolution, or data collaboration features.
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) SupportIn addition to Prebid, this integration also supports Amazon Publisher Services (APS) for bidstream activation. APS support is currently available on request. If you’re interested in using APS, please contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss setup and requirements.

Environment Compatibility

EnvironmentSupportedNotes
WebYesFull support via Permutive SDK and Prebid module
iOSNoNot supported - ID5 focuses on web-based identity
AndroidNoNot supported - ID5 focuses on web-based identity
CTVNoNot supported
API DirectNoNot supported

Prerequisites

Before enabling the ID5 integration, ensure you have the following. These prerequisites are for Prebid integration; for APS integration, contact your Customer Success Manager.
  • ID5 Partner Account: You must sign up for an ID5 account to obtain your Partner ID. While ID5 is free for publishers to use (advertisers pay to decrypt the IDs), you need to register and accept their terms of service.
    • Sign up at id5.io or contact ID5 directly
    • Obtain your unique Partner ID from your ID5 account dashboard
  • Consent Management: ID5 must be added to your Consent Management Platform (CMP) as an approved vendor in your TCF vendor list. Without proper consent configuration, ID5 will not generate identifiers.
    • Add ID5 as a vendor in your TCF implementation
    • Ensure required TCF purposes are configured (consult ID5 documentation for specific requirements)
  • Prebid Integration: The ID5 integration requires the Permutive Identity Manager Prebid module to be enabled. This is a specialized Prebid module separate from the standard Permutive RTD module.
    • The Permutive Identity Manager ID System module must be compiled into your Prebid build
    • See our Prebid integration guide for complete setup instructions including the Identity Manager module configuration
  • Permutive SDK: The Permutive Web SDK must be deployed and operational on your website

Setup

1

Sign Up for ID5 Account

Register for an ID5 account and obtain your Partner ID:
  1. Visit id5.io and complete the publisher registration process
  2. Accept ID5’s terms of service
  3. Navigate to your account dashboard and copy your Partner ID (you’ll need this in the next step)
ID5 is free for publishers to use. Advertisers pay to decrypt the identity envelopes in the bidstream.
2

Configure Consent Management

Add ID5 to your Consent Management Platform:
  1. Log in to your CMP dashboard
  2. Add ID5 to your TCF vendor list
  3. Ensure the required TCF purposes are enabled for ID5
  4. Test that consent is properly collected and ID5 appears in your consent string
If ID5 is not properly configured in your CMP, the integration will not generate identifiers, even if enabled in Permutive.
3

Enable Prebid Identity Manager Module

Ensure the Permutive Identity Manager ID System module is included in your Prebid build:
  1. Check your current Prebid configuration or contact your Prebid implementation team
  2. If the module is not already included, rebuild Prebid with the permutiveIdentityManagerIdSystem module
  3. Deploy the updated Prebid build to your website
The Permutive Identity Manager module is separate from the standard Permutive RTD module. Both can coexist in your Prebid setup. For detailed Prebid configuration instructions including the Identity Manager module setup, see our Prebid integration guide.
4

Enable ID5 in Permutive Dashboard

Activate the ID5 integration in Permutive:
  1. Navigate to IdentityCatalog in your Permutive dashboard
  2. Locate ID5 in the identity provider catalog
  3. Click Connect to begin the configuration process
  4. Enter your ID5 Partner ID when prompted
  5. Save the configuration
The Permutive SDK will automatically begin retrieving ID5 identifiers on your next SDK build.
5

Verify Setup

Confirm that ID5 identifiers are being generated and passed to Prebid:
  1. Open your website in a browser with developer tools enabled
  2. Navigate to the Console tab
  3. Look for Permutive SDK log messages indicating ID5 initialization
  4. Check the Network tab for API calls to ID5’s endpoints
  5. Inspect Prebid bid requests to verify that eids array contains ID5 identifiers
Expected behavior:
  • ID5 API calls should complete successfully (HTTP 200)
  • Prebid bid requests should include ID5 in the user.eids array with source id5-sync.com

Data Types

The ID5 integration does not collect event data into Permutive. Instead, it provides ephemeral identity signals that are passed directly to the programmatic bidstream via Prebid.

Identity Signals Transmitted

An encrypted identity envelope generated by ID5 and passed to demand-side platforms through Prebid’s Extended ID (EID) format.
source
string
Always set to id5-sync.com to identify the ID5 provider in the bidstream
uids[].id
string
The encrypted ID5 identity envelope. This is an ephemeral identifier that varies across requests and cannot be used for long-term tracking
uids[].atype
integer
Authentication type indicator. Typically set to 1 for ID5 identifiers
ID5 identifiers are not stored in Permutive’s identity graph or made available for cohort building. They exist solely for bidstream activation.

Troubleshooting

If ID5 identifiers are not showing up in your Prebid bid requests:Check consent configuration:
  • Verify ID5 is listed in your TCF vendor list
  • Ensure required TCF purposes are granted
  • Check the browser console for consent-related errors
  • Test in a fresh browser session or incognito mode to rule out cached consent states
Verify Prebid module:
  • Confirm the Permutive Identity Manager ID System module is compiled into your Prebid build
  • Check that no Prebid configuration is blocking ID5 from the eids array
  • Review Prebid console logs for initialization errors
Confirm dashboard configuration:
  • Navigate to Identity → Catalog in Permutive dashboard
  • Verify ID5 shows as “Connected” or “Enabled”
  • Ensure your Partner ID is correctly entered
  • Check that an SDK build has occurred since enabling ID5
Network connectivity:
  • Check browser developer tools Network tab for failed API calls to ID5 endpoints
  • Verify no ad blockers or content security policies are blocking ID5 requests
  • Test from different networks to rule out firewall or proxy issues
If you’re having trouble obtaining your ID5 Partner ID:
  1. Ensure you’ve completed the full registration process at id5.io
  2. Check your email for a confirmation or welcome message from ID5 with account details
  3. Log in to your ID5 dashboard (the Partner ID is typically displayed prominently)
  4. Contact ID5 support directly if you cannot locate your Partner ID
Common issue: Some publishers confuse the Partner ID with other ID5 identifiers. The Partner ID is a configuration value you provide to Permutive, not an identifier generated for users.
If you’re seeing lower than expected ID5 coverage:User consent factors:
  • ID5 only generates identifiers for users who grant consent
  • In regions with strict privacy regulations (EU, California), consent rates may be lower
  • Review your consent management strategy and consent request UI
Technical factors:
  • ID5 uses probabilistic matching, which may have inherent limitations in certain scenarios
  • Users with strict browser privacy settings may block ID5’s signals
  • Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) may limit ID5’s effectiveness
Measurement:
  • Use the Identity Insights dashboard in Permutive to view ID5 coverage metrics
  • Compare ID5 coverage to other identity solutions to establish a baseline
  • Monitor coverage trends over time to identify sudden changes that may indicate technical issues
ID5 coverage naturally varies by geography, browser type, and user privacy preferences. Typical coverage rates depend on your specific audience characteristics.
If you already have ID5 deployed directly on your site:The Permutive ID5 integration can coexist with direct ID5 implementations, but there may be redundant API calls. Consider:
  1. Keep existing implementation: If your direct ID5 integration is working well, you may not need the Permutive integration
  2. Migrate to Permutive: Remove your direct ID5 implementation and manage everything through Permutive for simplified operations
  3. Coordinate with ID5: Contact ID5 support to ensure both implementations are configured optimally
Performance consideration: Running duplicate ID5 implementations may result in unnecessary API calls. Consolidating to a single implementation is recommended.
If you’ve enabled ID5 but haven’t seen changes in CPMs or fill rates:Measurement timeframe:
  • Allow at least 2-4 weeks for measurable impact
  • Programmatic revenue fluctuates naturally; compare periods before and after ID5 enablement
Demand-side adoption:
  • Not all DSPs and advertisers decrypt and utilize ID5 identifiers
  • The value of ID5 depends on your specific demand partners
  • Contact your SSP or programmatic partners to confirm they support ID5
Analysis approach:
  • Review Prebid analytics to see bid density changes in auctions with ID5 present
  • Compare win rates for bid requests with vs. without ID5 identifiers
  • Consult with your ad operations team or programmatic partner for detailed analysis
ID5’s value proposition varies by publisher based on audience composition, demand partners, and existing identity solutions. Some publishers see significant uplift, while others see minimal impact.

Changelog

For detailed changelog information, visit our Changelog.