User-agent parser · Guide

Detecting Browser and OS from a User-Agent

Browser and OS are the fields people most want from a UA string. Here is how to read them and where caution is due.

Read browser and OS

A parser maps the UA to a browser name and version and an OS family. For analytics and support, that is usually enough to understand the client.

Do not gate features on it

Because UA strings can mislead, avoid using them to enable or block functionality. Feature detection is more reliable than UA sniffing for deciding what a client supports.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this for production work?

Yes, for inspection, formatting and quick generation. Still review the output before committing it to production code or configuration.

Ready to try it?

Open the free browser-based User-agent parser and apply what you just read — no sign-up, runs locally.

Open the User-agent parser tool