Javascript: How to find out if the user browser is Chrome?

Chrome detection in detail

The crux of effective Chrome detection lies in staying cognizant of the rapid pace at which browsers and their underlying engines evolve. Even objects such as window.chrome once deemed trustworthy, have been influenced by these changes and are no longer reliable indicators.

Chrome on iOS cleverly spoofs its user agent, making a simple window.chrome check yield incorrect results. Therefore, a true detection solution should involve checks in the userAgent string and the vendor, as these are tougher to imitate across environments.

userAgen: A changing landscape

Your Chrome detection function needs to be clever, just like that inquisitive raccoon that stole your lunch once. Here are some tips to outwit it (and by 'it', we mean Chrome, not the raccoon 🦝)

1. OPR in the userAgent signifies Opera, despite using the same underlying Chromium engine - that sneaky little browser!
2. IE Edge distinguishes itself from the old EdgeHTML-based Edge by containing Edg in its userAgent string.

If performance is your game, you might want to use direct property checks, rather than regular expressions, for your initial filtering. Consider regular expressions as the bouncer that confirms you're on the guest list.

Feature-detection: A robust approach

While user agents serve as vital breadcrumb trails, they aren't foolproof. Breadcrumbs can get messy and lead you off the path, just as Hansel and Gretel discovered to their peril. 👫🍞 Alternatively, feature detection provides a more robust method. Libraries such as Modernizr inspect features supported by the browser. This proves more reliable as spoofing another browser's feature support is a tad trickier than copying a user agent string.

The perils of relying solely on user agents

1. Security—browser identity can be falsified. We all remember that one kid who always tried to sneak into the movies, right?
2. Browser Features—many functions operate consistently across different browsers, so detecting the feature instead is more reliable.
3. Custom browsers—built on frameworks like Electron where navigator.userAgent is as unpredictable as a plot twist in a soap opera.

Feature detection alternatives

When climbing the mountain of JavaScript, you sometimes need extra gear. Consider these libraries as your trusty ice ax and crampons:

1. Conditional statements for feature existence, like 'fetch' in window—it's the piton holding you securely to the rocky face of JavaScript.
2. Mighty ua-parser-js—you can think of it as your carabiner, linking you to the secure rope of user-agent string parsing.

Efficiency and future-proofing

Just like an eager squirrel hoarding nuts for winter, it's crucial to ensure your browser detection logic is light and fast, to not impact the website's performance. Plus, you don't want to stumble into the trap of user agents that no longer signal potential browser changes.

Avoid detection pitfalls

1. False positives: Those sneaky Edge browsers may include "Chrome" in their user agent. Always double-check your party guests!
2. Outdated browsers: Including checks can result in code so bloated; it would make a sumo wrestler blush.
3. Over-Reliance: Use user agents, but don’t rely solely on them. Remember, changes are as unpredictable as the ending of "Inception." 🌀

Stay in the loop

Browser updates can sneak in like your cat at 3 AM, causing ructions in detection methodologies. To ensure your method sings "I Will Survive" (🎵), regularly check these sources:

• Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc
• UserAgentString.com - List of User Agent Strings