Browser Detection

From CSS Discuss

Several methods can be used to serve stylesheets based on what browser the visitor is using. Some work better than others.

• Java Script methods
  • http://www.acoustic.org/dm164/detect/jsexercise.shtml
  • The Ultimate Javascript Client Sniffer, Version 3.03
• PHP methods
  • Horde provides an excellent Browser class for browser sniffing.
  • Server Side CSS Sniffing: Delivering specific style sheets to specific user agents.
• IE-only detection
  • Conditional Comment ""s Pro: no Javascript; Con: helps detect IE5+ only
• CSS hacks
  • Tantek Çelik’s band pass filters for IE 5.0, IE 5.5, IE 5.x and IE 5 Mac

Note that the HTML/CSS "media type" allows the user agent (not necessarily a browser) to select a specific stylesheet. For instance, when using code like <link rel="stylesheet" href="tiny.css" type="text/css" media="handheld"/> the "tiny.css" stylesheet will be invoked only by a "handheld"-eligible user agent (some cell phones, for example). See Media Stylesheets .