Error Handling

Robust error handling is critical for ad playback on Smart TV platforms. This guide covers VAST error codes, recovery strategies, and graceful degradation patterns.

Error Types

The SDK uses standardized VAST error codes defined in src/types/vast.ts:208.

VASTErrorCode Enum

enum VASTErrorCode {
  // VAST parsing errors (100-199)
  XML_PARSING_ERROR = 100,
  VAST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_ERROR = 101,
  VAST_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED = 102,
  
  // Wrapper errors (300-399)
  GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR = 300,
  WRAPPER_TIMEOUT = 301,
  WRAPPER_LIMIT_REACHED = 302,
  NO_VAST_RESPONSE = 303,
  
  // Linear creative errors (400-499)
  GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR = 400,
  FILE_NOT_FOUND = 401,
  MEDIA_TIMEOUT = 402,
  MEDIA_NOT_SUPPORTED = 403,
  
  // Companion ad errors (600-699)
  GENERAL_COMPANION_ERROR = 600,
  
  // General errors (900+)
  UNDEFINED_ERROR = 900
}

AdError Interface

Error structure is defined at src/types/player.ts:116:

interface AdError {
  code: VASTErrorCode | number;  // Error code
  message: string;                // Human-readable message
  details?: string;               // Additional context
  recoverable: boolean;           // Whether recovery is possible
}

Handling Errors

Using onError Callback

The simplest way to handle errors:

import { AdPlayer, VASTErrorCode } from 'adgent-sdk';

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  
  onError: (error) => {
    console.error('Ad error:', error.code, error.message);
    
    // Check if recoverable
    if (error.recoverable) {
      console.log('Attempting recovery...');
      // Implement recovery logic
    } else {
      console.log('Fatal error, skipping ad');
      player.destroy();
      resumeMainContent();
    }
  }
});

await player.init();

Using Event Listeners

For more complex error handling:

import { AdPlayer } from 'adgent-sdk';

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml'
});

player.on((event) => {
  if (event.type === 'error') {
    const { code, message, recoverable } = event.data;
    
    // Log to analytics
    analytics.track('ad_error', { code, message });
    
    // Handle based on error code
    handleErrorByCode(code, recoverable);
  }
});

Error Categories

VAST Parsing Errors (100-199)

These occur during VAST XML parsing.

XML_PARSING_ERROR (100)

// Error: Invalid XML syntax
// Cause: Malformed VAST response
// Recovery: Not recoverable - skip ad

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.XML_PARSING_ERROR) {
  console.error('Invalid VAST XML');
  // Skip ad, resume content
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Common causes:

Malformed XML from ad server
Network corruption
Invalid UTF-8 encoding

Recovery: Not recoverable. Report error and skip ad.

VAST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_ERROR (101)

// Error: VAST XML doesn't match schema
// Cause: Missing required elements
// Recovery: Not recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.VAST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_ERROR) {
  console.error('VAST schema validation failed');
  analytics.track('vast_invalid_schema');
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Common causes:

Missing <Ad> element
Missing <Impression> URLs
Invalid VAST structure

Recovery: Not recoverable. Skip ad.

VAST_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED (102)

// Error: VAST version not supported
// Cause: VAST 1.0 or unsupported version
// Recovery: Not recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.VAST_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
  console.error('VAST version not supported');
  // SDK supports VAST 4.x
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Recovery: Not recoverable. SDK only supports VAST 4.x.

Wrapper Errors (300-399)

These occur when following VAST wrappers.

GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR (300)

// Error: Generic wrapper processing error
// Cause: Various wrapper issues
// Recovery: Potentially recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR) {
  console.error('Wrapper error');
  // Try fallback VAST URL if available
  if (fallbackVastUrl) {
    retryWithFallback(fallbackVastUrl);
  } else {
    player.destroy();
    resumeMainContent();
  }
}

WRAPPER_TIMEOUT (301)

// Error: Wrapper request timed out
// Cause: Slow network or unresponsive ad server
// Recovery: Retry with longer timeout

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.WRAPPER_TIMEOUT) {
  console.error('Wrapper request timed out');
  
  if (retryCount < MAX_RETRIES) {
    retryCount++;
    
    // Retry with longer timeout
    const newPlayer = new AdPlayer({
      container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
      vastUrl: vastUrl,
      timeout: 20000 // Increase timeout
    });
    
    await newPlayer.init();
  } else {
    player.destroy();
    resumeMainContent();
  }
}

Recovery strategy:

Retry with increased timeout (15-20 seconds)
Max 2-3 retries
If still fails, skip ad

WRAPPER_LIMIT_REACHED (302)

// Error: Too many wrapper redirects
// Cause: Exceeded maxWrapperDepth
// Recovery: Not recoverable (infinite redirect protection)

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.WRAPPER_LIMIT_REACHED) {
  console.error('Wrapper depth limit reached');
  // This is a protection mechanism - don't retry
  analytics.track('wrapper_depth_exceeded');
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Cause: More wrapper redirects than maxWrapperDepth (default: 5) Recovery: Not recoverable by design. Report to ad ops team.

NO_VAST_RESPONSE (303)

// Error: Empty or no VAST response
// Cause: Ad server returned empty response
// Recovery: Not recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.NO_VAST_RESPONSE) {
  console.error('No VAST response received');
  // Common with no-fill scenarios
  analytics.track('no_vast_response');
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Common causes:

No ad campaign available (no-fill)
Geographic restrictions
Frequency cap reached

Recovery: Not recoverable. This is normal behavior when no ads are available.

Linear Creative Errors (400-499)

These occur during video playback.

GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR (400)

// Error: Generic linear ad error
// Cause: Various playback issues
// Recovery: Potentially recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR) {
  console.error('Linear ad error:', error.details);
  
  // Check if it's an autoplay failure
  if (error.message.includes('Playback failed')) {
    // Show manual start overlay
    // SDK handles this automatically
  } else {
    player.destroy();
    resumeMainContent();
  }
}

Implementation: src/core/AdPlayer.ts:398

FILE_NOT_FOUND (401)

// Error: No suitable media file found
// Cause: No compatible video format in VAST
// Recovery: Not recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.FILE_NOT_FOUND) {
  console.error('No suitable media file');
  analytics.track('no_compatible_media');
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Common causes:

VAST only has VPAID (not supported)
No MP4/WebM files available
All media files are unsupported codecs

Triggered at: src/core/AdPlayer.ts:129 Recovery: Not recoverable. Report to ad ops to add compatible media files.

MEDIA_TIMEOUT (402)

// Error: Media loading timed out
// Cause: Slow CDN or network issues
// Recovery: Retry once

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.MEDIA_TIMEOUT) {
  console.error('Media loading timeout');
  
  if (retryCount === 0) {
    retryCount++;
    // Retry once
    const newPlayer = new AdPlayer({ /* same config */ });
    await newPlayer.init();
  } else {
    player.destroy();
    resumeMainContent();
  }
}

Recovery strategy:

Retry once after timeout
If still fails, skip ad
Log for CDN investigation

MEDIA_NOT_SUPPORTED (403)

// Error: Video codec/format not supported
// Cause: Platform can't decode the video
// Recovery: Not recoverable

if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.MEDIA_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
  console.error('Media format not supported');
  const platform = getPlatformAdapter().platform;
  analytics.track('unsupported_media', { platform });
  player.destroy();
  resumeMainContent();
}

Triggered at: src/core/AdPlayer.ts:220 Common causes:

HEVC video on platform without HEVC support
Corrupt video file
DRM-protected content

Recovery: Not recoverable. Report to ad ops with platform details.

Recovery Strategies

Strategy 1: Automatic Retry

import { AdPlayer, VASTErrorCode } from 'adgent-sdk';

class AdManager {
  private retryCount = 0;
  private maxRetries = 2;
  
  async playAd(vastUrl: string) {
    const player = new AdPlayer({
      container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
      vastUrl,
      
      onError: async (error) => {
        console.error('Ad error:', error);
        
        // Retry on specific errors
        const retryableCodes = [
          VASTErrorCode.WRAPPER_TIMEOUT,
          VASTErrorCode.MEDIA_TIMEOUT,
          VASTErrorCode.GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR
        ];
        
        if (retryableCodes.includes(error.code as VASTErrorCode) && 
            this.retryCount < this.maxRetries) {
          this.retryCount++;
          console.log(`Retrying... (${this.retryCount}/${this.maxRetries})`);
          
          player.destroy();
          
          // Wait before retry
          await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
          
          // Retry
          await this.playAd(vastUrl);
        } else {
          // Give up
          console.log('Max retries reached or non-retryable error');
          player.destroy();
          this.resumeMainContent();
        }
      },
      
      onComplete: () => {
        this.retryCount = 0; // Reset on success
        player.destroy();
        this.resumeMainContent();
      }
    });
    
    await player.init();
  }
  
  private resumeMainContent() {
    // Resume main video
  }
}

Strategy 2: Fallback VAST URL

import { AdPlayer } from 'adgent-sdk';

class AdManager {
  async playAd(primaryVastUrl: string, fallbackVastUrl?: string) {
    const player = new AdPlayer({
      container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
      vastUrl: primaryVastUrl,
      
      onError: async (error) => {
        console.error('Primary VAST failed:', error);
        
        if (fallbackVastUrl) {
          console.log('Trying fallback VAST...');
          player.destroy();
          
          // Try fallback
          await this.playAd(fallbackVastUrl);
        } else {
          // No fallback available
          player.destroy();
          this.resumeMainContent();
        }
      },
      
      onComplete: () => {
        player.destroy();
        this.resumeMainContent();
      }
    });
    
    await player.init();
  }
  
  private resumeMainContent() {
    // Resume main video
  }
}

Strategy 3: Adaptive Timeout

import { AdPlayer, getPlatformAdapter } from 'adgent-sdk';

function getAdaptiveTimeout(): number {
  const adapter = getPlatformAdapter();
  
  // Adjust timeout based on platform
  switch (adapter.platform) {
    case 'webos':
      return 15000; // LG TVs often slower
    case 'tizen':
      return 12000; // Samsung TVs moderate
    default:
      return 10000; // Default
  }
}

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  timeout: getAdaptiveTimeout()
});

Strategy 4: Error Tracking & Analytics

import { AdPlayer, VASTErrorCode } from 'adgent-sdk';

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  
  onError: (error) => {
    // Track all errors
    analytics.track('ad_error', {
      code: error.code,
      message: error.message,
      vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
      platform: getPlatformAdapter().platform,
      timestamp: Date.now()
    });
    
    // Fire VAST error pixels
    fireVastErrorPixel(error.code);
    
    // Graceful degradation
    player.destroy();
    resumeMainContent();
  }
});

function fireVastErrorPixel(errorCode: number) {
  // VAST error tracking URL with [ERRORCODE] macro
  const errorUrl = `https://adserver.com/error?code=${errorCode}`;
  
  if (navigator.sendBeacon) {
    navigator.sendBeacon(errorUrl);
  } else {
    const img = new Image();
    img.src = errorUrl;
  }
}

Common Error Scenarios

Scenario 1: Autoplay Blocked

Error: GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR with message “Playback failed” Cause: Browser/platform blocking autoplay SDK Behavior: Automatically shows “Start Ad” overlay User Action Required: Click play button

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  
  // SDK handles this automatically with overlay
  // No special error handling needed
  
  onStart: () => {
    console.log('Ad started after user interaction');
  }
});

Implementation: src/core/AdPlayer.ts:270-282

Scenario 2: Network Timeout

Error: WRAPPER_TIMEOUT or MEDIA_TIMEOUT Cause: Slow network or unresponsive server Recovery: Retry with longer timeout

let timeoutDuration = 10000;
let retryCount = 0;

async function playWithRetry(vastUrl: string) {
  const player = new AdPlayer({
    container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
    vastUrl,
    timeout: timeoutDuration,
    
    onError: async (error) => {
      if ((error.code === VASTErrorCode.WRAPPER_TIMEOUT ||
           error.code === VASTErrorCode.MEDIA_TIMEOUT) &&
          retryCount < 2) {
        retryCount++;
        timeoutDuration += 5000; // Increase by 5 seconds
        
        console.log(`Timeout, retrying with ${timeoutDuration}ms timeout`);
        player.destroy();
        await playWithRetry(vastUrl);
      } else {
        player.destroy();
        resumeMainContent();
      }
    }
  });
  
  await player.init();
}

Scenario 3: No Compatible Media

Error: FILE_NOT_FOUND Cause: No suitable video format in VAST Recovery: Not recoverable - report to ad ops

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  
  onError: (error) => {
    if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.FILE_NOT_FOUND) {
      // Report to ad ops
      analytics.track('no_compatible_media', {
        vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
        platform: getPlatformAdapter().platform,
        capabilities: getPlatformAdapter().capabilities
      });
      
      // Skip ad
      player.destroy();
      resumeMainContent();
    }
  }
});

Scenario 4: Empty VAST Response

Error: NO_VAST_RESPONSE Cause: No ad available (no-fill) Recovery: Normal behavior - resume content

const player = new AdPlayer({
  container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
  vastUrl: 'https://example.com/vast.xml',
  
  onError: (error) => {
    if (error.code === VASTErrorCode.NO_VAST_RESPONSE) {
      // This is normal - no ad to show
      console.log('No ad available');
      
      // Track no-fill
      analytics.track('ad_no_fill');
      
      // Resume content immediately
      player.destroy();
      resumeMainContent();
    }
  }
});

Graceful Degradation

Always ensure the user experience continues even when ads fail.

Best Practice Pattern

import { AdPlayer } from 'adgent-sdk';

class VideoPlayer {
  private adPlayer: AdPlayer | null = null;
  private mainVideo: HTMLVideoElement;
  
  constructor(mainVideo: HTMLVideoElement) {
    this.mainVideo = mainVideo;
  }
  
  async playPrerollAd(vastUrl: string) {
    try {
      this.adPlayer = new AdPlayer({
        container: document.getElementById('ad-container'),
        vastUrl,
        timeout: 12000,
        
        onComplete: () => {
          console.log('Ad completed successfully');
          this.cleanupAd();
          this.startMainContent();
        },
        
        onSkip: () => {
          console.log('User skipped ad');
          this.cleanupAd();
          this.startMainContent();
        },
        
        onError: (error) => {
          // Log error
          console.error('Ad error:', error);
          analytics.track('ad_error', error);
          
          // CRITICAL: Always resume content on error
          this.cleanupAd();
          this.startMainContent();
        },
        
        onClose: () => {
          console.log('User closed ad');
          this.cleanupAd();
          this.startMainContent();
        }
      });
      
      await this.adPlayer.init();
      
    } catch (error) {
      // Catch any initialization errors
      console.error('Ad initialization failed:', error);
      this.cleanupAd();
      this.startMainContent();
    }
  }
  
  private cleanupAd() {
    if (this.adPlayer) {
      this.adPlayer.destroy();
      this.adPlayer = null;
    }
  }
  
  private startMainContent() {
    // Always start main content
    this.mainVideo.play();
  }
}

Error Handling Checklist

Always resume main content on ad error
Never block user from watching content due to ad failure
Log all errors to analytics for debugging
Fire VAST error tracking pixels
Clean up player resources with destroy()
Implement retry logic for transient errors only
Set reasonable timeout values (10-15 seconds)
Test error scenarios on actual TV hardware

Next Steps

Configuration

Configure timeouts and error-related settings

Event Handling

Handle error events with listeners

Platform Detection

Handle platform-specific errors

Optimization

Prevent errors through optimization

Get Started

Core Concepts

Guides

Smart TV Platforms

​Error Handling

​Error Types

​VASTErrorCode Enum

​AdError Interface

​Handling Errors

​Using onError Callback

​Using Event Listeners

​Error Categories

​VAST Parsing Errors (100-199)

​XML_PARSING_ERROR (100)

​VAST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_ERROR (101)

​VAST_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED (102)

​Wrapper Errors (300-399)

​GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR (300)

​WRAPPER_TIMEOUT (301)

​WRAPPER_LIMIT_REACHED (302)

​NO_VAST_RESPONSE (303)

​Linear Creative Errors (400-499)

​GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR (400)

​FILE_NOT_FOUND (401)

​MEDIA_TIMEOUT (402)

​MEDIA_NOT_SUPPORTED (403)

​Recovery Strategies

​Strategy 1: Automatic Retry

​Strategy 2: Fallback VAST URL

​Strategy 3: Adaptive Timeout

​Strategy 4: Error Tracking & Analytics

​Common Error Scenarios

​Scenario 1: Autoplay Blocked

​Scenario 2: Network Timeout

​Scenario 3: No Compatible Media

​Scenario 4: Empty VAST Response

​Graceful Degradation

​Best Practice Pattern

​Error Handling Checklist

​Next Steps

Configuration

Event Handling

Platform Detection

Optimization

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Error Handling

Error Types

VASTErrorCode Enum

AdError Interface

Handling Errors

Using onError Callback

Using Event Listeners

Error Categories

VAST Parsing Errors (100-199)

XML_PARSING_ERROR (100)

VAST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_ERROR (101)

VAST_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED (102)

Wrapper Errors (300-399)

GENERAL_WRAPPER_ERROR (300)

WRAPPER_TIMEOUT (301)

WRAPPER_LIMIT_REACHED (302)

NO_VAST_RESPONSE (303)

Linear Creative Errors (400-499)

GENERAL_LINEAR_ERROR (400)

FILE_NOT_FOUND (401)

MEDIA_TIMEOUT (402)

MEDIA_NOT_SUPPORTED (403)

Recovery Strategies

Strategy 1: Automatic Retry

Strategy 2: Fallback VAST URL

Strategy 3: Adaptive Timeout

Strategy 4: Error Tracking & Analytics

Common Error Scenarios

Scenario 1: Autoplay Blocked

Scenario 2: Network Timeout

Scenario 3: No Compatible Media

Scenario 4: Empty VAST Response

Graceful Degradation

Best Practice Pattern

Error Handling Checklist

Next Steps