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?

Answer 1

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;
  }

Answer 2

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.