How to Read a User Agent String
User agent strings are long, messy and full of legacy tokens. This guide explains how to pick out the browser, version and OS.
What is the User Agent Parser?
Every browser sends a user agent string that mentions its engine, version and operating system, but the format is messy and full of historical quirks. This tool applies simple pattern matching to pull out a browser, operating system and device hint, and labels the result as a heuristic: user agent strings can be spoofed or customised, so they are never definitive detection.
How to use it
- Paste a user agent string.
- Click Parse user agent.
- Read the browser, operating system and device hints.
Worked example
Parsing the sample string reports Chrome 126.0.0.0 on Windows 10/11 on a desktop device.
What is a user agent string?
A short text a browser sends with each request identifying its engine, version and operating system, originally meant for compatibility checks.
Frequently asked questions
Can a user agent string be faked?
Yes, easily, which is why this breakdown is a hint for debugging and analytics, not proof of what software is really running.
Why does a Chrome string mention Safari?
For historical compatibility, most browsers include tokens from older engines, so raw strings look confusing until they are parsed.