> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lynxssp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Venue Taxonomy This page defines the venue categories used when creating or updating OOH / DOOH inventory in Lynx SSP. Lynx SSP uses the OpenOOH/IAB Venue Taxonomy v1.2.1 to describe the physical environment around a OOH / DOOH screen. A shared taxonomy helps buyers compare inventory across supply platforms and target similar environments consistently. ## Why venue standardization matters OOH / DOOH screens are located in many different environments, including airports, shopping malls, offices, roadsides, transit systems, and residential buildings. Without a shared classification, the same environment may be described differently by each media owner or supply platform. The OpenOOH taxonomy provides a common language for media owners, SSPs, DSPs, and media buyers. It improves venue-based targeting, reduces ambiguity during campaign planning, and makes OOH / DOOH inventory easier to package and compare across supply platforms. ## How the taxonomy works Lynx SSP uses two levels: | Level | Description | | :- | :- | | Parent venue | A broad environment category, such as Retail, Transit, or Outdoor. | | Child venue | A more specific environment under the parent, such as Mall, Airport, or Billboard. | When selecting a venue, choose the most accurate parent and child combination available. Grandchild categories exist in the OpenOOH specification but are not currently used in the Lynx inventory form. ## When to select a venue Select a venue when creating or updating a DOOH screen. Venue classification is required for specification (see Specification, Type & Category): • Roadside • Place-Based • Fleet Choose the venue based on the physical environment and audience around the screen, not only on the screen format, resolution, or advertising size. ## Parent venue categories | ID | Parent venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 1 | Transit | Locations connected to passenger transportation, such as airports, buses, trains, subways, and ferries. | | 2 | Retail | Locations where consumers visit to purchase products or services. | | 3 | Outdoor | Outdoor environments and public-facing displays, including billboards, urban panels, and bus shelters. | | 4 | Health & Beauty | Locations focused on fitness, beauty, personal care, or wellness services. | | 5 | Point of Care | Medical and healthcare locations where people receive treatment or professional care. | | 6 | Education | Schools and higher-education environments. | | 7 | Office Building | Commercial buildings used mainly for offices or business operations. | | 8 | Entertainment | Locations for leisure, recreation, dining, hospitality, sports, and entertainment. | | 9 | Government | Government facilities and public-service locations. | | 10 | Financial | Locations providing financial services, such as banks. | | 11 | Residential | Residential buildings and housing environments. | ## Child venue categories ### 01 — Transit | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 101 | Airport | Screens located in airport terminals, arrival areas, departure areas, baggage claim, gates, concourses, or airport retail areas. | | 102 | Bus | Screens located inside or on city and intercity buses. | | 103 | Taxi & Rideshare TV | Screens located inside taxis or rideshare vehicles, typically visible to passengers. | | 105 | Subway | Screens located inside subway trains, stations, or subway platforms. | | 106 | Train | Screens located inside trains, train stations, or train platforms. | | 107 | Ferry | Screens located inside passenger ferries or related ferry environments. | | 108 | Tram | Screens located inside trams, on trams, or at tram stations. | | 109 | Highway Rest Area | Screens located at highway rest areas or service stops for drivers. | Important: Taxi & Rideshare TV is only for screens inside taxi or rideshare vehicles. It is not a general DOOH category. ### 02 — Retail | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 201 | Fueling Station | Locations where drivers purchase fuel or charge vehicles. | | 202 | Convenience Store | Small retail stores with extended hours and everyday goods. | | 203 | Grocery | Retail stores that primarily sell food and groceries. | | 204 | Liquor Store | Retail stores that primarily sell packaged alcoholic beverages. | | 205 | Mall | Shopping malls or connected retail complexes with multiple stores and services. | | 206 | Cannabis Dispensary | Stores that sell cannabis or CBD products. | | 207 | Pharmacy | Stores where medicinal drugs and related products are sold. | | 208 | Parking Garage | Buildings or facilities where people park vehicles. | | 209 | Furniture | Stores that sell furniture and related home products. | | 210 | Apparel | Stores that sell clothing and personal accessories. | | 211 | Automotive | Locations that sell, service, or maintain motor vehicles. | | 212 | Laundromat | Public facilities with self-service washing and drying machines. | | 213 | Vape Shop | Stores that sell vaping products. | | 214 | Mass Merchandising | Retail locations offering a wide range of products, often at scale. | | 215 | Consumer Electronic | Stores that sell personal or household electronic devices. | | 216 | Retail Other | Retail environments not represented by another child category. | | 217 | Sporting Good | Stores that sell sporting equipment, apparel, or related products. | | 218 | Pet Store | Stores that sell pets, pet food, or pet-care products. | | 219 | Office Supply | Stores that sell office supplies and related products. | | 220 | Home Renovation | Stores that sell home-improvement, repair, or renovation products. | ### 03 — Outdoor | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 301 | Billboard | Large outdoor displays primarily visible to drivers and pedestrians. | | 302 | Urban Panel | Digital displays in urban environments, often serving pedestrians and public spaces. | | 303 | Bus Shelter | Displays located inside or around shelters where people wait for buses. | | 304 | Spectacular | Large-format or specially positioned displays in premium locations. | | 305 | Window Panel | Displays located in or directly behind a building window. | | 306 | Moving Billboard | Displays attached to or built into the side or rear of a vehicle or boat. | | 307 | Car Top | Displays installed on top of taxi or rideshare vehicles. | | 308 | Aerial | Displays carried or displayed in the air. | | 309 | EV Charging Station | Displays associated with electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. | ### 04 — Health & Beauty | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 401 | Gym | Fitness clubs, exercise facilities, or gyms. | | 402 | Salon | Beauty salons or establishments providing hair, beauty, or personal-care services. | | 403 | Spa | Establishments providing wellness, beauty, massage, or spa treatments. | | 404 | Tattoo | Establishments providing professional tattoo services. | ### 05 — Point of Care | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 501 | Doctor’s Office | Non-hospital medical facilities operated by physicians. | | 502 | Veterinary Office | Facilities where veterinary professionals treat animals. | | 503 | Dentist Office | Facilities where dental professionals provide oral healthcare. | | 504 | Hospital | Institutions providing medical, surgical, and nursing care. | | 505 | Urgent Care | Clinics providing prompt treatment for non-life-threatening illness or injury. | | 506 | Physiotherapy | Healthcare facilities focused on restoring movement and physical function. | ### 06 — Education | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 601 | School | Primary or secondary education institutions. | | 602 | College and University | Higher-education institutions and university environments. | ### 07 — Office Building | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 701 | Office Building | Commercial buildings containing spaces mainly used for offices. | | 702 | Warehouse | Buildings used to store materials or manufactured goods. | ### 08 — Entertainment | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 801 | Recreational Location | Locations where recreational or leisure activities take place. | | 802 | Movie Theater | Locations where long-format content is shown on large screens. | | 803 | Sports Entertainment | Venues where people watch or participate in sports and related activities. | | 804 | Bar | Businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages. | | 805 | Casual Dining | Restaurants offering moderately priced food in a casual environment. | | 806 | QSR | Quick-service or fast-food restaurants with limited table service. | | 807 | Hotel | Establishments providing accommodation and services for travelers. | | 808 | Golf Cart | Locations or environments associated with golf carts and golf activities. | | 809 | Night Club | Nighttime entertainment venues offering music, dancing, and drinks. | | 810 | High-End Dining | Formal or premium restaurants offering expensive dining experiences. | | 811 | Casinos | Locations where gambling activities take place. | | 812 | Convention Center | Facilities for conventions, trade shows, exhibitions, and large events. | ### 09 — Government | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 901 | DMV | Government facilities that provide driver and motor-vehicle services. | | 902 | Military Base | Facilities used for military operations, training, or personnel housing. | | 903 | Post Office | Facilities that process and deliver mail and packages. | | 904 | First Responder Facility | Facilities for police, fire, emergency medical, or other first responders. | ### 10 — Financial | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 1001 | Bank | Financial institutions that provide banking and money-related services. | ### 11 — Residential | ID | Child venue | Description | | :- | :- | :- | | 1101 | Apartment Building and Condominium | Residential buildings containing multiple housing units. | ## Common examples | Screen environment | Parent venue | Child venue | | :- | :- | :- | | Airport screen | Transit | Airport | | Shopping mall screen | Retail | Mall | | Grocery-store screen | Retail | Grocery | | Train-station screen | Transit | Train | | Office-building screen | Office Building | Office Building | | Apartment or condominium screen | Residential | Apartment Building and Condominium | | Roadside billboard | Outdoor | Billboard | | Screen inside a beauty salon | Health & Beauty | Salon | | Medical clinic screen | Point of Care | Doctor’s Office or the applicable medical category | ## How venue types improve DSP targeting Venue classification gives DSPs a consistent signal about the environment and audience around a screen. This allows buyers to target specific DOOH contexts instead of treating all screens as the same inventory. | DSP targeting need | Example venue selection | Targeting impact | | :- | :- | :- | | Reach travelers | Transit → Airport | Buyers can focus on screens in airport environments and passenger areas. | | Reach commuters | Transit → Train or Subway | Buyers can target screens associated with train, subway, or commuter journeys. | | Reach shoppers | Retail → Mall or Grocery | Buyers can select retail environments where consumers are shopping. | | Reach roadside audiences | Outdoor → Billboard or Urban Panel | Buyers can target outdoor screens visible to drivers and pedestrians. | | Reach office audiences | Office Building → Office Building | Buyers can focus on screens in business and workplace environments. | | Reach residential audiences | Residential → Apartment Building and Condominium | Buyers can target screens near residential communities. | | Reach wellness audiences | Health & Beauty → Gym, Salon, or Spa | Buyers can select fitness, beauty, and wellness environments. | | Reach healthcare audiences | Point of Care → Doctor’s Office or Urgent Care | Buyers can target screens in medical-care environments. | | Reach entertainment audiences | Entertainment → Movie Theater, Sports Entertainment, or Recreational Location | Buyers can select leisure and entertainment environments. | Standardized parent and child values help buyers compare similar inventory across different supply sources. The parent supports broader targeting, while the child provides more specific targeting. For example, a buyer can target all Retail environments or narrow the campaign to Retail → Mall. Accurate classification also helps reduce irrelevant bid opportunities. A screen in a mall should not be represented as a roadside billboard, and a screen inside a clinic should not be represented as a general retail screen. Select the category that best matches the actual physical environment so buyers can make reliable targeting decisions. ## Choosing the correct category Choose the category that best describes the physical environment and the audience around the screen. For beauty-related locations, use Health & Beauty → Salon or Health & Beauty → Spa for non-medical beauty and wellness services. Use Point of Care → Doctor’s Office, Urgent Care, or another applicable medical category for a medical clinic. Do not select a category based only on the screen name, resolution, or advertising format. If the correct venue is unclear, contact the inventory or operations team before saving the screen. ## Related standards [OpenOOH Venue Taxonomy v1.2.1](https://github.com/openooh/venue-taxonomy/blob/main/specification-1.2.md) — official venue definitions and IDs. [IAB OpenRTB 2.6 Specification](https://github.com/InteractiveAdvertisingBureau/openrtb2.x/blob/main/2.6.md) — real-time bidding reference for programmatic advertising. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.