Javascript to Sniff Android Based Browsers

Updated on 7th of February, 2014: The is_touch_device() function in the following is no longer working. Please check out my latest is_touch_device() function that works in the latest Chrome browser (Nevertheless, the rest of the codes are still working. Just replace the latest is_touch_device() function will do):

http://webtrick101.blogspot.com/2014/02/detecting-browsers-touch-capability.html



Using Javascript to sniff out Android based broswer is tough as the list of Android devices is very lengthy. Here's my Javascript way of performing the Android sniffing task.

<script> function is_touch_device() {  try {   document.createEvent("TouchEvent");   return true;  }  catch (e) {   return false;  } } var ie = (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("MSIE") != -1); var ipad = (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("iPad") != -1); var iphone = (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("iPhone") != -1); var bb = (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("BlackBerry") != -1); var touch = is_touch_device(); var android = touch && !ipad && !iphone && !bb && !ie; if (android) {  alert("Hello Droid!"); } </script>

The logic? A touch capable device which is not either iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, or Windows 8 (touch screen), chance is very high that it is an Android device. But the trend will keep on changing. This should be still good for now.