Browser Detector

Browser and Feature Detection

Browser detection identifies which browser, rendering engine, and operating system you're using. Feature detection goes further, checking which web APIs and capabilities your browser supports. Together, these help developers build compatible experiences.

Modern web development favors feature detection over browser detection. Instead of checking "Is this Chrome?", developers check "Does this browser support WebGL?" This approach is more reliable as browser capabilities vary even within the same browser family.

Rendering Engines

Blink (Chrome, Edge, Opera), Gecko (Firefox), and WebKit (Safari) are the main rendering engines. They determine how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are processed. Knowing the engine helps predict behavior and debug issues.

Feature Detection Benefits

Feature detection enables progressive enhancement—providing basic functionality to all browsers while adding advanced features where supported. This ensures your website works everywhere while maximizing capabilities.

Key Features Explained

WebGL enables 3D graphics. Service Workers power offline apps. WebAssembly runs high-performance code. IndexedDB stores large data locally. These features enable powerful web applications approaching native app capabilities.

Implementing Feature Detection

Use Modernizr or simple checks like "if ('feature' in window)" to detect capabilities. Provide fallbacks for unsupported features. Never assume feature support based on browser name alone.