Outbrain Server-Side vs Client-Side

Server-Side vs Client-Side

Help teams choose and operate the right delivery model for Outbrain data.

Decision Framework

• Criteria for selecting server-side, client-side, or hybrid approaches (scale, latency, privacy).
• Dependencies such as developer capacity, middleware, and tag manager capabilities.
• Budget or maintenance considerations tied to each approach.

Server-Side Implementation Notes

• Required infrastructure (cloud functions, GTM server-side, partner solutions).
• Data mapping, security controls, and deduplication strategies.
• QA checklist for payloads, response codes, and failover behavior.

Client-Side Implementation Notes

• Tag placement best practices, load order, and performance impacts.
• Managing consent, ad blockers, and browser limitations.
• Monitoring tools for page speed, console errors, and tag firing status.

Ongoing Operations

• Monitoring strategy for each approach and who reviews alerts.
• Failover or redundancy planning if one pipeline experiences issues.
• Documentation and ownership expectations for ongoing maintenance.