User Agent Info

What is a User Agent?

A User Agent is a short string that web browsers and other applications send to identify themselves to web servers.

Unfortunately, most browsers falsify part of their User-Agent header in an attempt to be compatible with more web servers.

How Does User Agent Detection Work?

When a web browser connects to a web server, it identifies itself using a user agent string. This string contains information about the browser, its version, and the operating system. Web servers use user agent strings to determine which version of a web page to serve to different devices.

Why is User Agent Important?

User agent strings are essential for web developers to optimize their websites for different browsers and devices. For example, a website might serve a mobile-optimized version to smartphones and a full desktop version to computers. It also helps in analytics, debugging, and ensuring compatibility across different platforms.

Common Uses of User Agent Information

• Responsive web design and mobile detection
• Browser compatibility testing
• Analytics and visitor tracking
• Security and bot detection
• Content optimization for specific devices