Determine from a HTTP request if the user is on a Smart Phone, IE, Firefox

[Sascha]

Hello

I am returning specialised website html according to what platform the
user is on. Is there a way to determine if the user is on a Smart
Phone or on IE or on Firefox?

Using python &/or examining HTTP packets?

 

[James Mills]

I am returning specialised website html according to what platform the
user is on. Is there a way to determine if the user is on a Smart
Phone or on IE or on Firefox?

I have an iPad and just wrote a simple demo app to test this:

http://prologic.no-ip.org:8000/

Source: http://codepad.org/zdZJgm1j

Basically if you check for the string "iPad" in
the User-Agent header. Obviously this only
works for iPads running IOS and the built-in
Safari Web Browser - but I'm sure other tablet/mobile
devices provide similar unique User-Agent strings.

cheers
James

 

[Chris Rebert]

Hello

I am returning specialised website html according to what platform the
user is on. Is there a way to determine if the user is on a Smart
Phone or on IE or on Firefox?

Yes, the "User-Agent" HTTP header:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_agent

Cheers,
Chris