CURRENT-DEVICE

This module makes it easy to write conditional CSS and/or JavaScript based on device operating system (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows, MacOs, Firefox OS, MeeGo, AppleTV, etc), orientation (Portrait vs. Landscape), and type (Tablet vs. Mobile).

View the Demo →

EXAMPLES

This module inserts CSS classes into the <html> element.

iPhone

Android Tablet

Blackberry Tablet

DEVICE SUPPORT

iOS: iPhone, iPod, iPad
Android: Phones & Tablets
Blackberry: Phones & Tablets
Windows: Phones & Tablets
Firefox OS: Phones & Tablets

USAGE

Just include the script. The script then updates the <html> section with the appropriate classes based on the device's characteristics.

Installation

npm install current-device

And then import it:

// using es modules
import device from "current-device";

// common.js
const device = require("current-device").default;

Or use script tags and globals.

<script src="https://unpkg.com/current-device/umd/current-device.min.js"></script>

And then access it off the global like so:

console.log("device.mobile() === %s", device.mobile());

CONDITIONAL CSS

The following tables map which CSS classes are added based on device and orientation.

Device CSS Class Names

Device	CSS Classes
iPad	ios ipad tablet
iPhone	ios iphone mobile
iPod	ios ipod mobile
Android Phone	android mobile
Android Tablet	android tablet
BlackBerry Phone	blackberry mobile
BlackBerry Tablet	blackberry tablet
Windows Phone	windows mobile
Windows Tablet	windows tablet
Firefox OS Phone	fxos mobile
Firefox OS Tablet	fxos tablet
MeeGo	meego
Desktop	desktop
Television	television

Orientation CSS Class Names

Orientation	CSS Classes
Landscape	landscape
Portrait	portrait

CONDITIONAL JAVASCRIPT

This module also includes support for conditional JavaScript, allowing you to write checks on the following device characteristics:

Device JavaScript Methods

Device	JavaScript Method
Mobile	device.mobile()
Tablet	device.tablet()
Desktop	device.desktop()
iOS	device.ios()
iPad	device.ipad()
iPhone	device.iphone()
iPod	device.ipod()
Android	device.android()
Android Phone	device.androidPhone()
Android Tablet	device.androidTablet()
BlackBerry	device.blackberry()
BlackBerry Phone	device.blackberryPhone()
BlackBerry Tablet	device.blackberryTablet()
Windows	device.windows()
Windows Phone	device.windowsPhone()
Windows Tablet	device.windowsTablet()
Firefox OS	device.fxos()
Firefox OS Phone	device.fxosPhone()
Firefox OS Tablet	device.fxosTablet()
MeeGo	device.meego()
Television	device.television()

Orientation JavaScript Methods

Orientation	JavaScript Method
Landscape	device.landscape()
Portrait	device.portrait()

Orientation JavaScript Callback

device.onChangeOrientation(newOrientation => {
  console.log(`New orientation is ${newOrientation}`);
});

Utility Methods

device.noConflict()

Run current-device in noConflict mode, returning the device variable to its previous owner. Returns a reference to the device object.

const currentDevice = device.noConflict();

Useful Properties

Access these properties on the device object to get the first match on that attribute without looping through all of its getter methods.

JS Property	Returns
device.type	'mobile', 'tablet', 'desktop', or 'unknown'
device.orientation	'landscape', 'portrait', or 'unknown'
device.os	'ios', 'iphone', 'ipad', 'ipod', 'android', 'blackberry', 'windows', 'macos', 'fxos', 'meego', 'television', or 'unknown'

BEST PRACTICES

Environment detection has a high rate of misuse. Often times, folks will attempt to work around browser feature support problems by checking for the affected browser and doing something different in response. The preferred solution for those kinds of problems, of course, is to check for the feature, not the browser (ala Modernizr).

However, that common misuse of device detection doesn't mean it should never be done. For example, current-device could be employed to change the interface of your web app such that it uses interaction patterns and UI elements common to the device it's being presented on. Android devices might get a slightly different treatment than Windows or iOS, for instance. Another valid use-case is guiding users to different app stores depending on the device they're using.

In short, check for features when you need features, and check for the browser when you need the browser.