Master User-Agent: Your Ultimate Guide is Coming!

Have you ever wondered why your favorite shopping site looks different on your phone compared to your laptop? The answer lies in something called a User-Agent (UA). This seemingly simple statistic plays a crucial role in how websites interact with your device, ensuring you get the best experience possible.

Or when you log into a streaming platform like Netflix or Hulu from different devices, the content layout often changes. This adaptation is also managed by your User-Agent, which tells the website what device you’re using, so it can stream video in the optimal resolution and interface layout.

Part I: What is a User-Agent?

Many of you have heard of User-Agent. But

What exactly is it?

Simply put, a User-Agent, also known as UA, is a line of text that your browser sends to a website. It helps websites display content in a format that adapts to your specific setup.

You can check your User-Agent by BrowserScan：

Composition of the User Agent String

The UA is structured to allow web servers and applications to tailor responses based on the user’s environment. Let’s take a closer look at the components of the browser identifier:

• Browser and Version

The first part of a UA string usually identifies the browser and the specific version being used. For example, starting with Mozilla/5.0 , it indicates a web browser that is compatible with Mozilla.

Example 1, Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/88.0.4324.150 Safari/537.36

In the string, Chrome/88.0.4324.150 indicates that the browser is Chrome and the version is 88.0.4324.150.

• Operating System and Platform

Following the browser information, the string provides information about the operating system (OS) and sometimes the platform. This helps websites to deliver OS-specific content or functionalities that are more suited to the user’s device.

In Example 1, (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) tells us that the OS is Windows 10, designed for a 64-bit architecture.

• Rendering Engine and Compatibility

Many User-Agents also include the browser’s rendering engine, which processes HTML and CSS to display web pages.

AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) represents the browser that uses the WebKit rendering engine and the specific version of WebKit used is 537.36.

The inclusion of (KHTML, like Gecko) suggests that the browser is signaling compatibility with sites optimized for Gecko. This is a form of web compatibility tactic for browsers to avoid being blocked or receiving a non-optimized version of a website. It's a way of saying, "Treat me as you would treat a Gecko-based browser."

• Device Type

Some of them will show details about the device type.

Example 2,Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_4 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/14.0.3 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1

Here, (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_4 like Mac OS X) indicates that the device is an iPhone running iOS 14.4.

For additional information, you can browse our article:

User Agent Parsing Tool: How to Get My Browser Info

Part II: How to take control of your User-Agent?

Finding Your User-Agent

Curious about your own User-Agent? Finding this information is simpler than you might think.

Tools like BrowserScan offer a straightforward User-Agent checking tool. This user-friendly tool allows you to see the UA string that your browser is sending to websites.

Use our free tool to parse your User-Agent

By understanding it, you can better manage how websites view and interact with your device.

Changing Your User-Agent

Here are some tips on how to adjust your UA to better suit your browsing needs and improve security:

a. Use Browser Extensions

Various browser extensions enable you to switch between different UAs easily. Some well-known extensions include:

• User-Agent Switcher for Chrome

• User-Agent Switcher and Manager for Firefox

• User-Agent Switcher for Microsoft Edge

These extensions typically offer a list of predefined UAs from which you can choose, and they allow you to add custom User-Agent strings.

b. Modify Browser Settings

For more advanced users, you can manually change the UA heading by accessing the developer tools.

• Chrome/Edge

Open Developer Tools, then click on the three-dot menu in the panel. Go to 'More tools', and select 'Network conditions'.

Uncheck 'Select automatically' under UA, and choose from the list or enter your custom string.

• Firefox

Type about:config in the address bar, search forgeneral.useragent.overrid, and set your custom UA. If the preference doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it.

c. Automate with Scripts

If you’re comfortable with scripting, you can automate changing your UA using different programming languages. For instance, in Python, you can use libraries likerequestsorseleniumto set custom UAs for web scraping or automated testing.

Also Pay Attention

Consider Privacy and Security Implications

Changing your UA can help mask your real browser and operating system, enhancing your privacy. However, be aware that some websites might not function properly if they detect an unexpected UA. Moreover, using a very unique one might make you more trackable, not less, in some cases.

Test After Changes

After changing your UA, visit detected websites or use the checking tool to confirm your changes. BrowserScan is here to meet your needs. Besides, try accessing various websites to ensure that they still function as expected.

By following these tips, you can effectively change your UA to suit your browsing experience, whether for development, privacy, or accessing restricted content.

Part III: What will User-Agents be like Tomorrow?

User-Agents are vital for web security, helping servers deliver the right content and detect potentially harmful access patterns.

In the future, more dynamic and intelligent UAs will be built with the negotiating content delivery based on device capabilities and user preferences. Additionally, privacy-focused trends could lead to more anonymized or standardized UAs to protect user data.

What can BrowserScan help?

Understanding and managing your User-Agent is essential for optimizing your online interactions and safeguarding your digital identity.

Keeping with the developing flow, BrowserScan is invaluable in providing insights into how websites view your device and allow you to control your online experience.

Use our free User-Agent checking tool to ensure websites function optimally on your device and enhance security!