get_browser() array into variables? - php

Question

Im currently playing around with browser detection mainly for statistics from the site and to better design the site in future. No ive been told the best way to go about this is to use the following code which shows all the browser info in an array if all my ini files are in place (which they are)
function list_array ($array) {
while (list ($key, $value) = each ($array)) {
$str .= "$brw = <b>$key:</b> $value<br>\n";
}
return $str;
}
echo "$HTTP_USER_AGENT<hr>\n";
$browser = get_browser();
echo list_array ((array) $browser);
The then displays this
browser_name_regex: �^mozilla/5\.0 \(.*windows nt 6\.2.*wow64.*\) applewebkit/.* \ (khtml, like gecko\).*chrome/28\..*safari/.*$�
= browser_name_pattern: Mozilla/5.0 (*Windows NT 6.2*WOW64*) AppleWebKit/* (KHTML, like Gecko)*Chrome/28.*Safari/*
= parent: Chrome 28.0
= platform: Win8
= platform_version: 6.2
= win32:
= win64: 1
= comment: Chrome 28.0
= browser: Chrome
= version: 28.0
= majorver: 28
= minorver: 0
= frames: 1
= iframes: 1
= tables: 1
= cookies: 1
= javascript: 1
= javaapplets: 1
= cssversion: 3
= alpha:
= beta:
= win16:
= backgroundsounds:
= vbscript:
= activexcontrols:
= ismobiledevice:
= issyndicationreader:
= crawler:
= aolversion: 0
Now heres were the problem lies all detect browser php plugings or download are overly complicated all im looking to do i seperate iphones ipads android blackberry apple and some of the most basic pieces of information. How can I turn this array into variables that can be used later. for example if i can grab the 2nd 3rd n 4th in the array i will have all the information i want as accurate as i need it all otherways and i seem to get problems with iphones showing as just a mobile device and what not Ive already tried for example
if (preg_match('/windows nt 6.2/i', $u_agent)) {
$platform = 'Windows 8';
}
and
$blackberry = strpos(&ua, 'Android') ? true : false;
and looked at
http://chrisschuld.com/projects/browser-php-detecting-a-users-browser-from-php.html
http://www.phpjabbers.com/php-snippet/detect-browser-php.php
http://www.killersites.com/community/index.php?/topic/2562-php-to-detect-browser-and-operating-system/

Answer 1

First of all, you should use foreach() instead of each + list. See http://www.php.net/manual/fr/function.each.php#63805
Second, you're casting the result of get_browser as an array for your list_array function when you do (array) $browser, that's why it works and why it doesn't create a fatal error.
If you want to use the result of get_browser as an array, you should however use the built in option to do so, ie :
$b = get_browser(null, true);
The second option here tells get_browser to return an array instead of an object, this should solve your problem of trying to use a class as an array.
You will then be able to use :
echo $b['browser'];
The default return type for get_browser beeing an object, you would have to use
$b = get_browser();
echo $b->browser;
if you wanted the same result.
Try reading the php manual http://php.net/manual/en/function.get-browser.php to get a better understanding of the functions you're using. You will find useful code in the comments aswell.
Finally, as you've been told, you should use an existing API for statistics.
Good luck with your coding.