Detecting Device Type in a web application

Question

We have a Java based application where in we want to detect the device type(mobile or desktop) for the device that is sending the request.

How is it possible?

See duplicate question and answer: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1005153/auto-detect-mobile-browser-via-user-agent — jbindel, Dec 15 '11 at 05:01

score 49 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 06 '20 at 16:17

49

You'll have to read the User-Agent header from the request and decide on that.

In vanilla servlet apps, a crude way of doing it is:

public void doGet(HttpServletRequest request,
                HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
  if(request.getHeader("User-Agent").contains("Mobi")) {
    //you're in mobile land
  } else {
    //nope, this is probably a desktop
  }
}

edited Feb 06 '20 at 16:17

Ankush

499
1
7
17

answered Dec 15 '11 at 04:48

leonardoborges

5,579
1
24
26

3

Latest and better way on Mozilla site - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Browser_detection_using_the_user_agent – lupchiazoem Dec 06 '13 at 11:46
1

Another, exhaustive, way - https://code.google.com/p/mobileesp/source/browse/Java/UAgentInfo.java – lupchiazoem Dec 06 '13 at 12:37
1

Another good library is bitwalker useragentutils: https://github.com/HaraldWalker/user-agent-utils which provides enums for BrowserType, DeviceType, OperatingSystem, Manufacturer, Version. It can be installed via Maven, and (perhaps most importantly) is maintained. – Simon B Jan 19 '14 at 17:33
As per Mozilla: "In summary, we recommend looking for the string “Mobi” anywhere in the User Agent to detect a mobile device." Refer: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Browser_detection_using_the_user_agent – Ankush Feb 06 '20 at 15:01
This is not working for me and I am always getting `fasle`. any idea? – Eatsam ul haq Jul 13 '22 at 07:48

score 15 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 20 '14 at 16:38

You can get device information by parsing http header

String browserType = request.getHeader("User-Agent");

You should parse browserType to get device type

This may help

  public String  getBrowserInfo( String Information )
  {
    String browsername = "";
    String browserversion = "";
    String browser = Information;
    if (browser.contains("MSIE"))
    {
      String subsString = browser.substring(browser.indexOf("MSIE"));
      String info[] = (subsString.split(";")[0]).split(" ");
      browsername = info[0];
      browserversion = info[1];
    } else if (browser.contains("Firefox"))
    {

      String subsString = browser.substring(browser.indexOf("Firefox"));
      String info[] = (subsString.split(" ")[0]).split("/");
      browsername = info[0];
      browserversion = info[1];
    } else if (browser.contains("Chrome"))
    {

      String subsString = browser.substring(browser.indexOf("Chrome"));
      String info[] = (subsString.split(" ")[0]).split("/");
      browsername = info[0];
      browserversion = info[1];
    } else if (browser.contains("Opera"))
    {

      String subsString = browser.substring(browser.indexOf("Opera"));
      String info[] = (subsString.split(" ")[0]).split("/");
      browsername = info[0];
      browserversion = info[1];
    } else if (browser.contains("Safari"))
    {

      String subsString = browser.substring(browser.indexOf("Safari"));
      String info[] = (subsString.split(" ")[0]).split("/");
      browsername = info[0];
      browserversion = info[1];
    }
    return browsername + "-" + browserversion;
  }

Can you provide me more information on this. I tried to go through the data that Http Header provides but did not find the required data. — Rishabh Ohri, Dec 15 '11 at 04:48
can someone fake the `User-Agent` when sending request to server? say they hit `curl` command but fake that it is coming from `Mobile`? — daydreamer, Aug 01 '14 at 04:43
@daydreamer It is possible to change or "fake" what your web browser sends as its user agent. Some mobile web browsers will let you change what the browser identifies itself as (ie "Mobile Mode" or "Desktop Mode") in order to access certain websites that only allow desktop computers. If you change this setting, the user agent is what is affected. — Lucky, Oct 11 '14 at 07:23
there are plugins for both Chrome and Firefox and probably also others that allows you to write ANY useragent, even predefined "ipad" and "searchbot" useragents... not to be trusted, but good for statistics — BerggreenDK, Feb 29 '16 at 21:56

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 17 '12 at 09:56

You could get a 3rd party software solution. There are plenty of Open Source ones out there. I've used 51Degrees.mobi's Java solution before now (and have also worked on their open source C solution). Follow that link and hit the download button. It's relatively easy to get up and running.

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 14 '18 at 00:20

5

You can try to use Spring Mobile. There are convenient classes to solve that.

Device currentDevice = DeviceUtils.getCurrentDevice(servletRequest);
if(currentDevice.isMobile()) { /* Mobile */ }
if(currentDevice.isTablet()) { /* Tablet */ }
if(currentDevice.isNormal()) { /* Desktop */ }

answered Jan 14 '18 at 00:20

Paweł Walaszek

381
3
13

1

`Spring-Mobile` is `no longer supported` and has reached its `deadline` – Eatsam ul haq Jul 07 '22 at 15:27

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 10 '17 at 10:13

3

You can try this lib I think, yauaa can detect a user agent string is which device/software

https://github.com/nielsbasjes/yauaa

answered Apr 10 '17 at 10:13

Karl Lin

307
4
16

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 12 '17 at 09:34

For Java 51Degrees has a free API on GitHub https://github.com/51Degrees/Java-Device-Detection, it is undated regularly and should be able to cover all the basic detentions that you need.

There is a tutorial how to use the API for Device Type detection here https://51degrees.com/Developers/Documentation/APIs/Java-V32/Tutorials/Web-App

There is also a free cloud version that offers the DeviceType Property (if you want more than just IsMobile) you can find the details on this on the 51Degrees website. You will need to "purchase" the free cloud through the website, but it does not ask for bank details and is completely free. You can also use JavaScript and other integration dependant on your requirements.

Disclosure: I work at 51Degrees.

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 27 '20 at 21:55

There's also http://openddr.mobi/, Open Source Device Detection for

Java
C#
VB.net

based on the W3C Device Description Repository.

OpenDDR is comparable to device repositories by 51Degrees, DeviceAtlas or ScientiaMobile/WURFL, but unlike those proprietary, closed source product, it's poen source and free to use.

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Dec 15 '11 at 04:45

0

You can check the User-Agent HTTP header on the HttpServletRequest object.

Ref: http://www.w3.org/Protocols/HTTP/HTRQ_Headers.html#user-agent

answered Dec 15 '11 at 04:45

jbindel

5,535
2
25
38

1

I think it will be better to put it that duplicate link on comment under the question itself. Right now it suggest that your answer is the duplicate. – Bhesh Gurung Dec 15 '11 at 04:52

Detecting Device Type in a web application

8 Answers8

Linked

Related