Detector
Detector is a simple, PHP- and JavaScript-based browser- and feature-detection library that can adapt to new devices & browsers on its own without the need to pull from a central database of browser information.
Consider an alternative
Detector shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.0 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Detector stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| detector | >100 |
| device | >100 |
| modernizr | #36 |
About Detector
From the official readme · v0.9.5Description
Detector is a simple, PHP- and JavaScript-based browser- and feature-detection library that can adapt to new devices & browsers on its own without the need to pull from a central database of browser information.
Also available on GitHub: https://github.com/SteveBarnett/Detector.
Full documentation is available at github / dmolsen / Detector.
To Do
- Add some useful responsive image handling, in the style of picturefill.js. Based on families at first?
- Add functions for conditional loading of content via JS, depending on screen size.
- wp_enqueue_script for Modernizr
- Check Modernizr version, custom
- Add option to add own feature tests from admin area?
- Add option to add own families from admin area?
- Add shortcodes?
Installation
- Go to Plugins > Add New, Upload and choose detector.zip.
- Activate the plugin.
Changelog
0.9.5
Updated to match dmoslen’s current Detector
0.8.5
Updated to match dmoslen’s current Detector
0.8.2
Updated to match dmoslen’s current Detector
0.8.1
- Initial release. regexes.yaml from 2012/07/12: 303c8f9
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Detector alternatives
All detector plugins →
FAQ
Detector: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is Detector free?
Yes. Detector is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Detector safe to use in 2026?
Detector shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Detector?
Detector is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 2,232 times since it launched in July 2012. It was downloaded 45 times in the last 30 days.
Does Detector work with WordPress 7.1?
Detector is officially tested up to WordPress 3.0.5, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Detector last updated?
The latest version, 0.9.5, was released on September 10, 2012 (14 years ago).
Who makes Detector?
Detector is developed and maintained by steve.barnett.
What are the best alternatives to Detector?
The most popular alternatives to Detector are Widget Detector for Element… (1K+ installs), Device Detector (500+ installs) and Mobile Detector (200+ installs).
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