Implementing Code Tabs in Prebid Documentation: A Practical Guide for Publishers

Maintaining clear, accessible documentation for Prebid implementations can be challenging—especially when you need to present code examples for different platforms or ad operations workflows. A frequent stumbling block for publishers is showing multiple code language examples without overwhelming the reader or cluttering your guides.

Using code tabs not only makes technical documentation easier to read, but also streamlines onboarding for your ad ops team and reduces errors in implementation. This article focuses on how to implement code tabs in Prebid documentation, making practical use of tools like Bootstrap and Jekyll to deliver a professional, maintainable guide for your monetization stack.

Why Code Tabs Matter in Prebid Documentation

Technical teams supporting header bidding or Prebid integrations often work across multiple platforms—web, mobile, and sometimes even custom SDKs. Presenting several code options on a single page can quickly become messy and outright confusing.

Code tabs address this by letting users switch between code examples (for example, web JavaScript, mobile Kotlin, or Swift) within the same space. This avoids cognitive overload and ensures your documentation is futureproofed as you scale across devices.

Real-World Example: Multi-Channel Header Bidding

Imagine you support both web and in-app monetization. Prebid.js might run on your web property, while Prebid Mobile requires Kotlin and Swift snippets for your native apps. Rather than splitting these into entirely separate articles or pages, code tabs let your tech teams and external partners flip between platforms instantly—cutting down on confusion and speeding up troubleshooting.

How Code Tabs Work: Under the Hood

Platforms like Bootstrap offer a ready-made tab component, while static site generators like Jekyll provide mechanisms to streamline the code that powers these tabs. Both are widely recommended for maintaining Prebid documentation, and they interact seamlessly to provide a robust solution.

Bootstrap Tabs in Action

Bootstrap’s tab component is a frontend UI pattern that allows users to toggle between content panes. For example, consider tabs labeled ‘Kotlin’ and ‘Swift’ for mobile SDK instructions. Only the selected code is visible at any time—keeping your page concise and sharply focused.

Implementing in Jekyll with Includes and Captures

Jekyll’s {% capture %} tag lets you store code examples in variables, while {% include %} can render these snippets in the correct tab. Each tab set requires a unique ID for proper tab switching. This method keeps code maintainable and avoids copy-paste errors as your guides evolve over time.

Critical Things Publishers Need to Know for Implementation

While code tabs provide immediate clarity, several details can trip up even experienced ad ops teams when updating or scaling documentation.

Unique Tab IDs Prevent Malfunctions

Each tab group in your documentation must have a unique identifier. If reused, tabs can break—displaying or hiding the wrong code and confusing users. Always ensure every {% include %} uses a unique id parameter.

Structured Code Improves Long-Term Maintainability

By capturing code examples in variables before rendering, updates can be made in one place—even if the same snippet appears in several guides. This practice reduces the risk of outdated examples and accelerates QA cycles, especially when onboarding new monetization partners.

Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

Missteps in documentation can have downstream effects on engineering, revenue operations, and even partner relations. Learn from common mistakes to save your team hours of rework.

Avoid Hard-Coding Code Blocks

Embedding raw code directly within HTML or Markdown often leads to maintenance nightmares. Instead, store language snippets in named variables and use includes—this keeps your docs DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and easier to audit.

Don’t Overcomplicate Tabs

Tabs should clarify, not obfuscate. Stick to genuinely necessary languages or SDK examples relevant to your environment. Too many tabs can overwhelm ad ops users just as much as too few.

What this means for publishers

Effective use of code tabs translates to greater control, accelerated onboarding for new ad ops team members, and fewer troubleshooting headaches. Well-documented Prebid setups empower teams to experiment, adapt, and roll out platform changes faster—with fewer costly mistakes interrupting your revenue flow.

Practical takeaway

Publishers should make code tabs a baseline in their Prebid documentation strategy, especially if they support multiple platforms or maintain custom modifications of Prebid.js or Prebid Server. Start by auditing existing documentation for crowded code examples, then break them into clear language-specific tabs using Bootstrap and Jekyll techniques.

Always enforce unique tab IDs and capture code snippets in variables rather than embedding them directly. Set a documentation style standard for your monetization and development teams: clear, DRY, and platform-aware. This investment pays dividends in scalability and smoother ad ops workflows.