To start, we’ll need to know what a user agent is, and why it’s important to track them. We’ll then go over how to get the user agent from a request and how to use it to analyze user behavior.
What is a User Agent? A user agent is a string of text that identifies the user or browser making the request. It can include information such as the operating system, browser brand, or device model. Examples include Google Chrome on MacOS or Safari on iPhone.
One of the most important pieces of information in a user agent is the agent type. This defines the type of software making the request and can be used to identify the user or browser. User agents can be classified into four categories: human, robot, crawler, and other. Human agents represent regular users visiting your website and are easily identified by their IP address. Robot agents are often used by search engines to crawl your site and index the content. Crawler agents are often used by crawlers to index content from your site. Other agents include those that cannot be classified by the other three categories. Now that you understand what a user agent string is and why it’s important to identify them; let’s take a look at how you can get one from a request. How do you get a User Agent from a Request? One of the easiest ways to get a user agent string from a request is by using a User-Agent parser. A parser is designed to split a string into its constituent parts and then identify which parts are which. The best way to do this is with Python, which is widely used for its versatility and ease of use; especially for data science tasks like parsing user agents. Fortunately, there is an excellent Python library called User-Agent Decoder; which allows you to easily decode user agents; as well as keep track of other browsing data such as: screen resolution, browser plugins, operating system, and more! When you combine this library with your own applications or web scraping scripts; you’ll have access to detailed information about any user who visits your website or application; which will allow you to better understand your users, as well as target them with more relevant marketing campaigns!
Now that you understand what User-Agent Parsing is and have seen the advantages that it has for your company; let me introduce you to the best option on the market: The User
This API will allow you to detect any Bot, Crawler, or Spider via their User Agent. Prevent malicious behavior on your applications!
You can check Bot Detector Via User Agent API for free here.
