browser version detection from server side with java

Question

I saw many posts related to the browser detection, User agent detection etc...I want to detect the version from server side and send appropriate data based on that.

I know browsers can mimic version with tools, but that doesn't matter for me.

I need the java solution for the exact version detection.

• Manish: AFAIK, the only way to detect browser version is by inspecting the "headers". Logically it makes sense also, as the server can not go to each "client" and find out information about it - it has to rely on the information provided by the client when the client comes to browser.

Answer 1

Here is the code explaining how to do it using user-agent-utils:

String userAgent = req.getHeader("user-agent");
UserAgent ua = UserAgent.parseUserAgentString(userAgent);
Version browserVersion = ua.getBrowserVersion();
String browserName = ua.getBrowser().toString();
int majVersion = Integer.parseInt(browserVersion.getMajorVersion());

Answer 2

Take a look at user-agent-utils.

• coder247: User agent Utils are really useful. It returns the exact version with two lines of coding.
• Varun: @coder247 - can you share the code snippet... I googled it but still was not able to find it

Answer 3

Check the headers in the HTTP servlet request - they'll tell you. Check the "User-Agent" header.

Answer 4

I recommend UA Detector at uadetector.sourceforge.net

Answer 5

Use Spring Mobile Device Module?

This can use either the LiteDeviceResolver or the WurflDeviceResolver.