browser detect

sstonge

hey

I'm trying to find a way to detect what browser a user is running.

on one part of my page I have to set the table width depending on what browser the user is running (netscape or ie).

so if I can get $browser to = their type of browser the rest is easy!

Thanks.

stolzyboy

you're gonna be best served using javascript for this one

http://javascript.internet.com

sstonge

so there is no way to this in php at all?

stolzyboy

yes it can be done with PHP [man]get_browser[/man], but read the info on it there, that is why i said to use JS

Weedpacket

Gets it from $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'], which, of course, can be faked.

sstonge

$_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']

tells me what I need to know... right?

you're gonna be best served using javascript for this one

why is JS better?

stolzyboy

Originally posted by sstonge
why is JS better?

for what weed said, it can be spoofed/changed

JS code runs in the clients browser, PHP runs at server side, so you can spoof from the client to the server

sstonge

does this happen a lot or only if some wants to be spoofing the server?

stolzyboy

Originally posted by sstonge
does this happen a lot or only if some wants to be spoofing the server?

that, i can't say for sure, but that is why i pointed you to JS, i love PHP, but for client side stuff, you can't beat JS

of course you can turn JS off, but there is something like 1% that have it turned off, according to www.thecounter.com

superwormy

The javascript method is just as easy, if not easier to spoof...

In short, there is no 100% reliable way to detect the browser, its a matter of personal taste. I would use $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'].

Weedpacket

And of course, if they want to send a fake user agent string then that's their own lookout.

But how much these days does one need to know what sort of client is being used? It's not supposed to matter whether it's Netscape, Mozilla, IE, Googlebot or scooter.

That's the ideal, anyway, but it's nice to try for.

stolzyboy

Originally posted by superwormy
The javascript method is just as easy, if not easier to spoof...

In short, there is no 100% reliable way to detect the browser, its a matter of personal taste. I would use $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'].

didn't really say that there was a 100% way to detect it, but i just feel that i would rather have a better chance with client side scripting, in this case, than with server side scripting