Browser Capabilities Project
Providing regularly updated browscap.ini and related downloads since 1998!

Frequently Asked Questions

How is browscap.ini useful in the real world?

Browscap.ini is, as the filename might indicate, a browser capabilities database. In conjunction with functions built into common embedded web scripting languages the browscap.ini becomes a resource by which you can more easily customize content that form-fits a visitor's web browser. Not everyone uses the same browser, and not all browsers behave the same way. Using this combination enables you to create pages that are free from browser-specific design limitations, more consistent across all browsers, or highly specialized based on the visitor's capabilities.

Are there any licensing issues with the files? Is it legal to use them?

Other than our own Terms of Use there are no licensing or negative legal issues associated with using the files. For those of you specifically wondering about Microsoft's position on this issue, we can tell you that we have a wonderful contact at MS who is aware of my website and has provided answers to questions that couldn't be found anywhere else. We don't claim to have Microsoft's official support, but they are aware of this project and don't seem to object to it.

What do you consider commercial use of the files?

To us commercial use means you'll either be offering our data for sale, or you'll be using the files in conjunction with your product to keep your client's product updated by downloading my files directly from our website. It is not considered commercial use if you just want to use the files on your commercial web server to identify user agents.

How often do you update your files?

There's no real schedule because updates are only published as changes warrant. One week there may be no updates, while other weeks may see more than one update.

Is your browscap.ini file compatible with all versions of IIS for Windows?

Our browscap.ini file is natively compatible with all versions of IIS 5 and later. Due to problems with how IIS 4.x handles multiple wildcards within each pattern, many browsers will be incorrectly identified.

Is your browscap.ini file compatible with PHP?

Yes it is. You must be sure to download the special php_browscap.ini file and then be sure the browscap property in php.ini points to the file's location. We like to use the PHP\extras folder. If you're using PHP in the recommended ISAPI mode on IIS, the new file should be recognized automatically. Otherwise a server restart will be necessary for the changes in php.ini to be recognized.

Is your browscap.ini file compatible with Sun ONE Active Server Pages?

According to the documentation on Sun's website, our browscap.ini file is natively compatible with Windows versions of Sun ONE ASP. On Unix/Linux platforms the file needs special handling that is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

What's the best way to install PHP so it works with IIS and my files?

We rely on and recommend the simple tutorial that Peter Guy hosts. His tutorial easily guides a PHP novice through an install that's secure and makes use of our php_browscap.ini file.

Can I automatically check for updates?

Yes, please do. We offer three ways to check for updates.

First is http://browsers.garykeith.com/version-xml. Most feed readers can check this file on a schedule, detect when a newer version of the files are available, and download them.

The second method is to compare the version number in the files (Version property under [GJK_Browscap_Version] in the files) to the latest version number at http://browsers.garykeith.com/version-number. If the version number in the files is less than the version number on the website then a new version of the files is available for download. How you choose to download them is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

The third method is to compare the version date in the files (Released property under [GJK_Browscap_Version] in the files) to the latest version date at http://browsers.garykeith.com/version-date. If the version date in the files is less than the version date on the website then a new version of the files are available for download. How you choose to download them is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

Please bear in mind that excessive checking for updates is considered abuse according to our Terms of Use.

How do I download the files directly?

The syntax for the URL used to download the files is http://browsers.garykeith.com/stream.asp?<FileType> where <FileType> is any one of the following keywords:

Keyword		File
BrowsCapINI		browscap.ini
Lite_BrowsCapINI		lite_asp_browscap.ini
PHP_BrowsCapINI		php_browscap.ini
Lite_PHP_BrowsCapINI		lite_php_browscap.ini
BrowsCapZIP		browscap.zip
BrowsCapProperties		property-name-docs.xml
BrowsCapXML		browscap.xml
BrowsCapCSV		browscap.csv
KnownAgents		known_agents.zip
HTTPDv2		v2_httpd.ini
HTTPDv3		v3_httpd.ini
NotesTXT		notes.txt
RobotsTXT		robots.txt

To download browscap.zip, for example, use http://browsers.garykeith.com/stream.asp?BrowsCapZIP.

The methods for downloading a file are beyond the scope of this FAQ.

Where do I install the browscap.ini file?

In Windows it's installed in the same folder as browscap.dll, %SystemRoot%\system32\inetsrv. %SystemRoot% is usually C:\Windows. In PHP the file can be placed anywhere...we use PHP\extras. In both cases don't forget your anonymous IIS account(s) will need read permissions for the file.

Do I need to re-start my web server for the new browscap.ini to be recognized?

If you're using IIS alone, or IIS with PHP in the recommended ISAPI mode the answer is no. In all other cases the answer is yes. If the expected changes are not showing up then rebooting your web server is probably a good first start at resolving the problem.

How come all user agents report the browser as unknown?

Does browscap.ini have read permissions for the anonymous IIS web account(s)? That's the main reason why you'll see this behavior. If you're using PHP did you download php_browscap.ini, and is php.ini's [browscap] section pointing at the correct path? That's the second most frequent reason for seeing this behavior.

How does a user agent get added to the ban list and what does the isBanned property in the files mean?

We add user agents to our ban list and set the isBanned property in the files to true based solely on our opinion of, and subjective experience with the user agent. Banning undesirable user agents is just one of the ways we help control abusive behavior on the site. How you might implement such a system is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

What is the browscap.csv file in your downloads section for?

Some people have requested such things as smaller versions of browscap.ini and methods for importing our data into a database. A .csv file is a standard text file with comma-separated values (hence the file extension csv) that can easily be imported into most database and spreadsheet applications. In our opinion this is an ideal way to make our data available for a variety of uses.

What is the browscap.xml file in your downloads section for?

This file serves much the same purpose as the previous browscap.csv file does. The main difference is it uses the XML format that more and more people seem to prefer these days.

Do you publish updates for the browsercaps section of ASP.NET?

No, at least not yet. However, our data is also available in XML and CSV format, which means with some simple scripting you can create your own browsercaps section.

I see AK and SK properties in almost every entry for browscap.ini. What are they?

SK stood for (S)tarter (K)it. It was sold as an upgrade to WinNT and Win95. AK stands for (A)dministrators (K)it and provides a way to ensure everyone's browser is running the approved, customized, corporate version of Internet Explorer. For the most part AK is considered deprecated however it is still in use. The files don't support AK or SK as their implement ion is often a highly localized phenomenon.

What's the best way to detect America Online?

Check the value of "AolVersion" in browscap.ini. Non-zero values reflect the version of the AOL client software being used. A zero value means the AOL client software is not being used.

When I installed Windows Server 2003 SP2 my browscap.ini file got replaced by an outdated version. How come? What can I do to fix it?

According to a confirmed Microsoft employee and blogger this is a confirmed bug in SP2. The SP does not check to see if the existing browscap.ini file is newer than the file included with the SP. A KB article is forthcoming.

There are two suggested solutions. One before the install and the other if you've already done your install.

Before the install make a backup of browscap.ini and then restore it afterward.

If you've already done the install you can either grab our latest file or copy the backup that's placed in %SystemRoot%\$NtServicePackUninstall$ during the SP installation to %SystemRoot%\system32\inetsrv.

I'm using Microsoft Windows Server 2008, but it gets identified by the files as Windows Vista. How come?

According to one of my sources at Microsoft, Windows Server 2008 uses the same code base as Windows Vista and even uses the same version number as Vista, 6.0.

While this may be a bit confusing the simple fact is Microsoft does not provide any way to tell the difference between Vista and Server 2008 so both operating systems will be identified by the files as Vista.

Why have I been blocked or banned from using this website?

Mostly likely it was due to some form of server abuse by one of your scripts. Our Terms of Use permit you to check for updates and/or download the files a limited number of times per day. They also require that you use a user agent string of at least ten characters in length.

It is considered abuse if you don't abide by terms specified in my Terms of Use and your IP Address will be automatically banned for 24 hours. Continued abuse will eventually result in a permanent ban.

How can I find out the latest news about this project?

You can follow my occasional bits of news from behind the scenes, idle ramblings about UA-related issues, and hopefully alerts about when new updates have been posted via Twitter at @browscap.

Is there somewhere you discuss project-related issues in a participatory format?

You can like our page on Facebook and then take part in our discussion board. The board isn't very active but we keep trying to change that.

How can I be sure I'm using your site securely?

By using SSL, which helps ensure you have an secure encrypted connection to our server. Place an "s" after the "http" at the start of the URL like this: https://browsers.garykeith.com/version-number

I didn't find an answer to my question. What should I do?

Please contact us with your question. We welcome the chance to help you with project-related questions, and possibly add to this FAQ.