This page provides an overview of the various ad types and features available
in the API. For an overview of different ad types and formats, see
[About ad formats available in different campaign
types](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/1722124).

## Ad channels

Google ads typically appear on [two
networks](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/1752334):

Search network
:   Includes Google Search result pages, other Google sites like Maps and
    Shopping, and partnering search sites.

Display network
:   Includes Google sites like YouTube, Blogger, and thousands of partnering
    websites.

If you want to advertise on both networks but don't want to manage separate
Search and Display campaigns, you can create a [Display Expansion on
Search campaign](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7193800) with a
single ad group.

Certain ad types, specifically App engagement and Video ads, don't
appear on either the Search or the Display network and are specific to their
corresponding media: mobile apps or YouTube.

## Mutate ads

You can mutate your ads without losing their performance data by using
[`AdService`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AdService).

Not all ad types are mutable as summarized in the following table. If an ad type
is not mutable, it must be removed and recreated to affect changes. Performance
data for the removed ad will continue to be available, but will no longer be
updated.

## Sharing ads in multiple ad groups

Ads of certain types can be referenced from multiple ad groups, referred to as
ad sharing.

In the same way that you can [share keyword
sets](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/samples/create-and-attach-shared-keyword-set), an ad can be
shared between ad groups by reusing the same [ad ID](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/Ad#id)
in another [ad group ad](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AdGroupAd).

## Ad type compatibility

> [!TIP]
> **Tip:** Interested in using multiple ad types in a single campaign? Performance Max campaigns allow you to access multiple Google Ads channels from a single campaign using assets, so you don't need to make a decision about which ad types to use. See more benefits of [upgrading to Performance Max](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/performance-max/upgrade-overview).

This table summarizes the capabilities and limitations for each ad type.
For more details, refer to [enumeration of ad
types](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AdTypeEnum.AdType) and their associated [set of
resources](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/Ad#ad_data).

| Ad Type | Search | Display | Mutable | Shareable | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [AppAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AppAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | App Ads promote an app across all Google properties [from a single campaign](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/app-campaigns/overview). More at [advanced campaigns](https://ads.google.com/home/campaigns/app-ads/) and the [Help Center](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6247380). |
| [AppEngagementAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AppEngagementAdInfo) | No | No | Yes | Yes | App engagement ads allow you to write text encouraging a specific action in the app, like checking in, making a purchase, or booking a flight. For details, see the [App engagement ads help article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6310747). |
| [AppPreRegistrationAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AppPreRegistrationAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | App pre-registration ads build awareness and anticipation for apps and games before they are released on Google Play. For details, see the [App campaigns guide](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/app-campaigns/overview). |
| CallAd | Yes | No | No | No | **(Removed in v23)** Creation of new call-only ads was [deprecated in January 2026](https://ads-developers.googleblog.com/2025/10/upgrade-your-call-only-ads-to.html), and `CallAd` and `CallAdInfo` have been removed from the API (existing call-only ads are supported only until February 2027). Migrate to responsive search ads with [call assets](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/CallAsset) instead. For more details, see the [Call ads help article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6341403). |
| [DemandGenCarouselAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DemandGenCarouselAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Part of [Demand Gen campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/demand-gen), this ad type consists of several images in a swipeable card format and appears on YouTube, Discover, and Gmail feeds. |
| [DemandGenMultiAssetAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DemandGenMultiAssetAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Part of [Demand Gen campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/demand-gen), this ad type combines headlines, descriptions, images and logos and appears on YouTube, Discover, and Gmail feeds. Starting in v25, new instances are opted into automatic animated image generation ([`AssetAutomationType.GENERATE_ANIMATED_IMAGES_FROM_OTHER_ASSETS`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AssetAutomationTypeEnum.AssetAutomationType#generate_animated_images_from_other_assets)) by default; you can opt out using [`AdGroupAd.ad_group_ad_asset_automation_settings`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AdGroupAd#ad_group_ad_asset_automation_settings[]). |
| [DemandGenProductAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DemandGenProductAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Part of [Demand Gen campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/demand-gen), this ad type features product images and appears on YouTube, Discover, and Gmail feeds. See [Shopping Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/overview). |
| [DemandGenVideoResponsiveAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DemandGenVideoResponsiveAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Part of [Demand Gen campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/demand-gen), this ad type is a video ad format that appears on YouTube, Discover, and Gmail feeds. Starting in v24, instances are opted into automatic landing page text generation ([`GENERATE_LANDING_PAGE_TEXT`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AssetAutomationTypeEnum.AssetAutomationType#generate_landing_page_text)) by default; you can opt out using [`AdGroupAd.ad_group_ad_asset_automation_settings`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AdGroupAd#ad_group_ad_asset_automation_settings[]). |
| [DisplayUploadAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DisplayUploadAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | A generic type of display ad. Supported [product types](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/DisplayUploadProductTypeEnum.DisplayUploadProductType). |
| [ExpandedDynamicSearchAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ExpandedDynamicSearchAdInfo) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Expanded dynamic search ads contain only two description lines because the headline, final URLs, and display URL are auto-generated at serving time according to domain name specific information. See [Dynamic Search Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/dynamic-search-ads/overview) and the [Help Center](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2471185). |
| [ExpandedTextAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ExpandedTextAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | No | No | **Note:** This ad format is [deprecated](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/11031467). Existing ads cannot be edited, only paused or removed. We recommend transitioning to [responsive search ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/responsive-search-ads/overview). |
| [HotelAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/HotelAdInfo) | Yes | No | No | Yes | See [Hotel Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/hotel-ads/overview) and the [Help Center](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9238461). |
| [ImageAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ImageAdInfo) | Yes^1^ | No | No | Yes | As opposed to a text ad, an image ad is a graphic promoting a business. For details, see the [Image ads help center article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2393023). |
| [LegacyAppInstallAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/LegacyAppInstallAdInfo) | No | No | No | No | A legacy app install ad that only can be used by a few select customers. |
| [LocalAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/LocalAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | **(Deprecated)** Local campaigns have been upgraded to [Performance Max](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/performance-max/upgrade-overview) for store goals. In Performance Max, creatives are managed using [`AssetGroup`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AssetGroup) and [`AssetGroupAsset`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/AssetGroupAsset). For more information, see the [Local ads help center article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9118422). |
| [LegacyResponsiveDisplayAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/LegacyResponsiveDisplayAdInfo) | No | Yes | No | No | Known as "responsive ads" in the UI, this legacy ad type has been replaced by `ResponsiveDisplayAd`. |
| [ResponsiveDisplayAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ResponsiveDisplayAdInfo) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | See [Responsive Display Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/responsive-display-ads/create-responsive-display-ads). |
| [ResponsiveSearchAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ResponsiveSearchAdInfo) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Unlike static text ads, responsive search ads permit up to 15 different headlines and 4 different descriptions, which are then tested in combination to find the best permutation. For details, see the [Responsive search ads help center article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7684791). |
| [ShoppingComparisonListingAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ShoppingComparisonListingAdInfo) | Yes | No | Yes | No | See [Shopping Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/overview) and the [Comparison listing ads help center article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9262823). |
| [ShoppingProductAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ShoppingProductAdInfo) | Yes | Yes^2^ | No | Yes | See [Shopping Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/overview). |
| [ShoppingSmartAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ShoppingSmartAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | No | No | **(Deprecated)** Smart Shopping campaigns have been upgraded to [Performance Max](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/performance-max/upgrade-overview). See [Shopping Ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/overview). |
| [SmartCampaignAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/SmartCampaignAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | **(Deprecated)** New Smart campaigns cannot be created as of September 2026. Existing campaigns continue to serve and can be updated. See [Smart campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/smart-campaigns/overview). |
| [TextAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/TextAdInfo) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | A text-only ad with a headline and two description lines. This ad format is deprecated. We recommend that you transition to [responsive search ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/responsive-search-ads/overview). |
| [TravelAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/TravelAdInfo) | Yes | No | No | Yes | See [Things to do ads](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/things-to-do-ads/overview). |
| [VideoAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/VideoAdInfo) | No | No | No | No | The Google Ads API permits only [reporting](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/fields/v26/video) for this legacy ad type. Video campaigns must be created using the [UI](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2375497) or [Google Ads scripts](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/scripts/docs/campaigns/video-campaigns). For video ads, an impression is generated when the video starts playing, and a view for in-stream skippable ads is 30 seconds or video completion (for shorter videos). For modern video ads creatable using the API, see `DemandGenVideoResponsiveAd`. |
| [VideoResponsiveAd](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/VideoResponsiveAdInfo) | No | No | Yes | No | Responsive video ads are used in the [video action campaign](https://blog.google/products/ads/new-ways-to-drive-action) type, which was upgraded to [Demand Gen campaigns](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/demand-gen) in 2025. For new campaigns, use `DemandGenVideoResponsiveAd`. For details, see the [Video action campaigns help center article](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7671017). |

^1^ An [`ImageAd`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ImageAdInfo) on the Search Network
can appear only on websites of Google Search partners, not on Google Search.

^2^ A [`ShoppingProductAd`](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/v26/ShoppingProductAdInfo) on the
Display Network can appear only on YouTube and Google Discover.

## Explore ad fields

To discover all available fields related to ads, including their data types,
descriptions, and which other fields they are compatible with in `SELECT` and
`WHERE` clauses, use the interactive
[Google Ads Query Builder](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/fields/v26/overview_query_builder).

To see fields associated with ad types:

1. Go to the [Query Builder](https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/fields/v26/overview_query_builder).
2. Select the `ad_group_ad` resource.
3. Browse the list of fields. You can find `ad_group_ad.ad.type` and other `ad` attributes.
4. Click any field name to see its description and attributes (filterable, sortable, data type).
5. The tool also shows which segments and metrics can be selected with the `ad_group_ad` resource.