Content item selection and measurement determination

A computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving a first request for content associated with a first client device, wherein the first request for content is indicative of a first quantity of content items;
• determining a first plurality of bid values associated with a first plurality of content items;
• selecting a second plurality of content items from the first plurality of content items based upon the first plurality of bid values, wherein:
• the second plurality of content items is associated with a first plurality of rankings;
• and
• a second quantity of content items of the second plurality of content items is greater than the first quantity of content items associated with the first request for content;
• identifying one or more first ghost content items of the second plurality of content items, wherein the one or more first ghost content items are associated with one or more first rankings of the first plurality of rankings;
• selecting, from the second plurality of content items, a third plurality of content items that are not ghost content items for presentation via the first client device, wherein:
• a third quantity of content items of the third plurality of content items is equal to the first quantity of content items associated with the first request for content;
• and
• the third plurality of content items is associated with a second plurality of rankings;
• and
• storing a first ghost impression indicator associated with a first ghost content item of the one or more first ghost content items based upon a determination that a first ranking, of the one or more first rankings, associated with the first ghost content item matches a second ranking of the second plurality of rankings.

A non-transitory machine readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions that when executed cause performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving a first request for content associated with a first client device, wherein the first request for content is indicative of a first quantity of content items;
• determining a first plurality of bid values associated with a first plurality of content items;
• selecting a second plurality of content items from the first plurality of content items based upon the first plurality of bid values, wherein:
• the second plurality of content items is associated with a first plurality of rankings;
• and
• a second quantity of content items of the second plurality of content items is greater than the first quantity of content items associated with the first request for content;
• identifying one or more first ghost content items of the second plurality of content items, wherein the one or more first ghost content items are associated with one or more first rankings of the first plurality of rankings;
• selecting a third plurality of content items, of the second plurality of content items, that are not ghost content items for presentation via the first client device, wherein the third plurality of content items is associated with a second plurality of rankings;
• and
• storing a first ghost impression indicator associated with a first ghost content item of the one or more first ghost content items based upon a determination that a first ranking, of the one or more first rankings, associated with the first ghost content item matches a second ranking of the second plurality of rankings.