PHP script to detect handheld devices

theMAD2 · 12 Jan 2006 at 10:26

Hi,

Does anyone know of a way to use PHP to detect if a browser is a handheld, and if so direct the browser to a different page (for example website/portabe) for a seperate portable version of the site?

I have added a CSS file with media="handheld" to make the current site compatable, but I want people on handhelds to access a different site with cut down content especially for people on the move.

robc123 · 12 Jan 2006 at 18:19

browser version?

Augmented · 12 Jan 2006 at 19:18

Have a look at WURFL - it's a library that helps identify handheld devices, and check for feature support.

toastyman · 12 Jan 2006 at 21:10

The only way i've seen this done so far is with libaries...but this seems as pain as they have to be reguarly updated, and could be missing browsers. Why can't there just be a header element which tells the server whether its a mobile or pc browser lol. Would be a lot easier!

Dj_Jestar · 12 Jan 2006 at 22:43

buld yourself an array of known handheld user-agents and then use:

Code:

<?php

$array = array(/* known hand held user agent strings go here */);

if (in_array($_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'], $array)) {
    header('Location: http://www.yoursite.com/handheldpage.php');
}

?>

For a quick and easy answer.

zetec452 · 12 Jan 2006 at 22:58

Augmented said:
Have a look at WURFL - it's a library that helps identify handheld devices, and check for feature support.

Dude, you have answers to EVERYTHING.

Augmented · 12 Jan 2006 at 23:22

JonRohan said:
Dude, you have answers to EVERYTHING.

Well credit for the find goes to a work colleague, as he was looking into doing this very thing a number of months ago but it was never fully implemented.

theMAD2 · 13 Jan 2006 at 08:55

Thanks for your help everyone

punky_munky · 15 Jan 2006 at 12:09

The easy way of course is just to have a link in the top left corner of the page. That should be able to fit on any browser window.