Cross Browser Flash Detection in Javascript

Question

Does anyone have an example of script that can work reliably well across IE/Firefox to detect if the browser is capable of displaying embedded flash content. I say reliably because I know its not possible 100% of the time.

I see you've already accepted joeri's answer, but you really ought to seriously consider swfObject. It's a lot more robust and less bloaty. — Matt Lohkamp
– Matt Lohkamp, Commented Oct 2, 2008 at 8:32

Andrew Ensley · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-25 12:59:58Z

110

I agree with Max Stewart. SWFObject is the way to go. I'd like to supplement his answer with a code example. This ought to to get you started:

Make sure you have included the swfobject.js file (get it here):

<script type="text/javascript" src="swfobject.js"></script>

Then use it like so:

if(swfobject.hasFlashPlayerVersion("9.0.115"))
{
    alert("You have the minimum required flash version (or newer)");
}
else
{
    alert("You do not have the minimum required flash version");
}

Replace "9.0.115" with whatever minimum flash version you need. I chose 9.0.115 as an example because that's the version that added h.264 support.

If the visitor does not have flash, it will report a flash version of "0.0.0", so if you just want to know if they have flash at all, use:

if(swfobject.hasFlashPlayerVersion("1"))
{
    alert("You have flash!");
}
else
{
    alert("You do not flash :-(");
}

edited Sep 25, 2017 at 12:59

answered Dec 30, 2010 at 19:29

Andrew Ensley

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6 Comments

Brian Scott Over a year ago

great. I was struggling to find a really simple example of simply detecting any flash installed. Thanks.

kontur Over a year ago

Thanks for this example! Needed to run some other javascript if the user was without flash and was already using swfobject for the embedding anyway. :)

E-comm Over a year ago

there is a problem with this, you will need to include a check for SWFobject or you will get a error because undefined does not have a function called hasFlashPlayerVersion(). if(SWFobject && SWFobject.hasFlashPlayerVersion("1")) { // code here }

Andrew Ensley Over a year ago

Obviously, my code assumes that you have SWFObject loaded. It's just like using jQuery or any other library for a solution. It won't work if you don't include it, and it would be a lot of extra bloat/execution logic if you checked for the library every time you used it.

Travesty3 Over a year ago

@Andrew: I realize this post is four and a half years old, but it's not so obvious to those that aren't used to working with SWFObject. I'm using an Angular add-on for file uploads that resorts to Flash if HTML5 is not supported, and wanted to display a message if Flash was not detected. It wasn't obvious to me that SWFObject was a library that needed to be loaded, or if it was auto-loaded via the installation of Flash Player in the browser. Thank you for clarifying in your comment, but please consider adding it to your answer.

|

pranavcode · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-22 21:03:44Z

94

SWFObject is very reliable. I have used it without trouble for quite a while.

edited Sep 22, 2016 at 21:03

pranavcode

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answered Oct 1, 2008 at 19:44

Max Stewart

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6 Comments

davr Over a year ago

Same here, SWFObject works great for me as well (used to be called FlashObject, but Adobe threw a hissy fit)

jrz Over a year ago

With jQuery and swfobject, this is the code I used to add Modernizr-style html class names:

$('html').addClass(typeof swfobject !== 'undefined' && swfobject.getFlashPlayerVersion().major !== 0 ? 'flash' : 'no-flash');

hitautodestruct Over a year ago

If anyone is interested I tested some of these cases on jsperf. SWFObject came out the fastest.

Avatar Over a year ago

Check for flash using swfobject with if( swfobject.hasFlashPlayerVersion("8.0") ) { } Throws false if there is no flash installed. The number is the minimum flash player version required.

Akrikos Over a year ago

hitautodestruct, of course SWFObject came out fastest. It only does the actual detection once on page load and then returns the values it stored every time it's called. Since that's the way you'd end up using the other methods as well, the performance comparison isn't a fair comparison.

|

Community · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-15 00:55:59Z

36

I know this is an old post, but I've been looking for a while and didn't find anything.
I've implemented the JavaScript Flash Detection Library. It works very well and it is documented for quick use. It literally took me 2 minutes. Here is the code I wrote in the header:

<script src="Scripts/flash_detect.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript"> 
 if (!FlashDetect.installed) {
    alert("Flash is required to enjoy this site.");         
 } else {
    alert("Flash is installed on your Web browser.");
 }
</script>

edited Jun 15, 2016 at 0:55

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 1, 2011 at 19:14

Jon Clark

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4 Comments

balint Over a year ago

it now fails on Chrome and Firefox 6+!

poitroae Over a year ago

Seems legit - the latest version works pretty well or me. Thank you, keep up the good work!

Nick Van Brunt Over a year ago

Thanks. I like this library because it doesn't require a sentinel swf. I hope you keep it up to date!

Sabin Chacko Over a year ago

This should be the answer... :)

stewe · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-26 01:41:59Z

32

You could use closure compiler to generate a small, cross-browser flash detection:

// ==ClosureCompiler==
// @compilation_level ADVANCED_OPTIMIZATIONS
// @output_file_name default.js
// @formatting pretty_print
// @use_closure_library true
// ==/ClosureCompiler==

// ADD YOUR CODE HERE
goog.require('goog.userAgent.flash');
if (goog.userAgent.flash.HAS_FLASH) {
    alert('flash version: '+goog.userAgent.flash.VERSION);
}else{
    alert('no flash found');
}

which results in the following "compiled" code:

var a = !1,
    b = "";

function c(d) {
    d = d.match(/[\d]+/g);
    d.length = 3;
    return d.join(".")
}
if (navigator.plugins && navigator.plugins.length) {
    var e = navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"];
    e && (a = !0, e.description && (b = c(e.description)));
    navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash 2.0"] && (a = !0, b = "2.0.0.11")
} else {
    if (navigator.mimeTypes && navigator.mimeTypes.length) {
        var f = navigator.mimeTypes["application/x-shockwave-flash"];
        (a = f && f.enabledPlugin) && (b = c(f.enabledPlugin.description))
    } else {
        try {
            var g = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7"),
                a = !0,
                b = c(g.GetVariable("$version"))
        } catch (h) {
            try {
                g = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6"), a = !0, b = "6.0.21"
            } catch (i) {
                try {
                    g = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"), a = !0, b = c(g.GetVariable("$version"))
                } catch (j) {}
            }
        }
    }
}
var k = b;
a ? alert("flash version: " + k) : alert("no flash found");

answered Mar 26, 2012 at 1:41

stewe

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5 Comments

anonymous-one Over a year ago

this solution is the cleanest in our opinion. we were looking for a swfobject / library free method of detecting if flash is installed. this does the trick. thanks!

Andrew Ensley Over a year ago

Not to complain @anonymous-one, but doesn't this solution also use a library (specifically goog.userAgent.flash from Google's Closure Compiler)? I just want to make sure I'm not missing some nuanced difference here.

anonymous-one Over a year ago

we are not using the first snippet. we are using the 2nd. which is 'library free'.

HartleySan Over a year ago

This is the purest and most thorough answer I've seen that seems to cover all browsers. Thank you.

James M. Greene Over a year ago

You can also see the unminified version of this compiled code, including some helpful comments, over here: code.google.com/p/doctype-mirror/wiki/ArticleDetectFlash

tomasdev · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-15 19:03:47Z

22

Minimum version I've ever used (doesn't check version, just Flash Plugin):

var hasFlash = function() {
    return (typeof navigator.plugins == "undefined" || navigator.plugins.length == 0) ? !!(new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash")) : navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"];
};

answered Oct 15, 2012 at 19:03

tomasdev

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7 Comments

mike nelson Over a year ago

Nice and short, I like it!

tomasdev Over a year ago

@greg.kindel I've been using it for a long time since then, and it works for the versions I tested. Could be helpful though, if you specify OS version and IE version too ;)

Zensursula Over a year ago

doesn't work in IE 9.0.17 under Win 7 with error message: "Automation server can't create object". This seems to depend on the installation. On some computers it works on some not.

Zensursula Over a year ago

@Zensursula: I put a try{}catch() around the ActiveXObject and returned false in the exception clause. Now It is working for mee too

tomasdev Over a year ago

@mch a ton of things could do that. but the by default security levels should not.

|

Kent Brewster · Accepted Answer · 2008-10-02 04:08:50Z

8

Carl Yestrau's JavaScript Flash Detection Library, here:

http://www.featureblend.com/javascript-flash-detection-library.html

... may be what you're looking for.

answered Oct 2, 2008 at 4:08

Kent Brewster

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Comments

Joeri Sebrechts · Accepted Answer · 2008-10-01 19:28:27Z

7

Perhaps adobe's flash player detection kit could be helpful here?

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/download/detection_kit/

answered Oct 1, 2008 at 19:28

Joeri Sebrechts

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1 Comment

Andrew Ensley Over a year ago

Would just like to point out: SWFObject is the successor to Adobe's detection kit linked here.

score 5 · Accepted Answer · 2008-10-14 03:08:18Z

5

Detecting and embedding Flash within a web document is a surprisingly difficult task.

I was very disappointed with the quality and non-standards compliant markup generated from both SWFObject and Adobe's solutions. Additionally, my testing found Adobe's auto updater to be inconsistent and unreliable.

The JavaScript Flash Detection Library (Flash Detect) and JavaScript Flash HTML Generator Library (Flash TML) are a legible, maintainable and standards compliant markup solution.

-"Luke read the source!"

edited Oct 14, 2008 at 3:08

answered Oct 14, 2008 at 3:01

Carl S Yestrau

Comments

trante · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-04 07:21:16Z

5

Code for one liner isFlashExists variable:

<script type='text/javascript'
    src='//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/swfobject/2.2/swfobject.js'> </script>

<script type='text/javascript'>
   var isFlashExists = swfobject.hasFlashPlayerVersion('1') ? true : false ;
   if (isFlashExists) {
    alert ('flash exists');
   } else {
    alert ('NO flash');
   }
</script>

Note that there is an alternative like this: swfobject.getFlashPlayerVersion();

edited Mar 4, 2013 at 7:21

answered Mar 2, 2013 at 11:37

trante

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Comments

hitautodestruct · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-20 08:12:26Z

3

View the source at http://whatsmy.browsersize.com (lines 14-120).

Here is the abstracted cross browser code on jsbin for flash detection only, works on: FF/IE/Safari/Opera/Chrome.

edited Dec 20, 2012 at 8:12

hitautodestruct

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answered Oct 1, 2008 at 22:08

Ateş Göral

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4 Comments

hitautodestruct Over a year ago

Can you provide some code or at least a link as to how you achieved the answer on your site?

Ateş Göral Over a year ago

@hitautodestruct If you view the source of the page, the answer is directly there, at the top of the JS block.

hitautodestruct Over a year ago

So essentially were talking about this code (jsbin link)?

Ateş Göral Over a year ago

@hitautodestruct Yes, plus the detectObject() counterpart for IE.

Martin Bommeli · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-03 10:10:00Z

3

what about:

var hasFlash = function() {
    var flash = false;
    try{
        if(new ActiveXObject('ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash')){
            flash=true;
        }
    }catch(e){
        if(navigator.mimeTypes ['application/x-shockwave-flash'] !== undefined){
            flash=true;
        }
    }
    return flash;
};

answered Oct 3, 2013 at 10:10

Martin Bommeli

1011 silver badge2 bronze badges

Comments

bizi · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-30 00:54:57Z

2

If you are interested in a pure Javascript solution, here is the one that I copy from Brett:

function detectflash(){
    if (navigator.plugins != null && navigator.plugins.length > 0){
        return navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"] && true;
    }
    if(~navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("webtv")){
        return true;
    }
    if(~navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE") && !~navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Opera")){
        try{
            return new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash") && true;
        } catch(e){}
    }
    return false;
}

answered Mar 30, 2014 at 0:54

bizi

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Comments

bitinn · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-11 19:41:38Z

1

If you just wanted to check whether flash is enabled, this should be enough.

function testFlash() {

    var support = false;

    //IE only
    if("ActiveXObject" in window) {

        try{
            support = !!(new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"));
        }catch(e){
            support = false;
        }

    //W3C, better support in legacy browser
    } else {

        support = !!navigator.mimeTypes['application/x-shockwave-flash'];

    }

    return support;

}

Note: avoid checking enabledPlugin, some mobile browser has tap-to-enable flash plugin, and will trigger false negative.

edited Mar 11, 2013 at 19:41

answered Mar 11, 2013 at 19:17

bitinn

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Comments

Cloudscape Germany · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-11 15:57:52Z

0

To create a Flash object standart-compliant (with JavaScript however), I recommend you take a look at

Unobtrusive Flash Objects (UFO)

http://www.bobbyvandersluis.com/ufo/index.html

answered Jul 11, 2010 at 15:57

Cloudscape Germany

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Comments

Nazik · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-23 07:52:50Z

0

Have created a small .swf which redirects. If the browser is flash enabled it will redirect.

package com.play48.modules.standalone.util;

import flash.net.URLRequest;


class Redirect {


static function main() {

    flash.Lib.getURL(new URLRequest("http://play48.com/flash.html"), "_self");

}

}

edited Apr 23, 2013 at 7:52

Nazik

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answered Apr 23, 2013 at 7:31

mike

1

Comments

chickens · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-04 00:46:50Z

Using Google Closure compiler goog.require('goog.userAgent.flash') library I created this 2 functions.

boolean hasFlash()

Returns if browser has flash.

function hasFlash(){
    var b = !1;
    function c(a) {if (a = a.match(/[\d]+/g)) {a.length = 3;}}
    (function() {
    if (navigator.plugins && navigator.plugins.length) {
        var a = navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"];
        if (a && (b = !0, a.description)) {c(a.description);return;}
        if (navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash 2.0"]) {b = !0;return;}
    }
    if (navigator.mimeTypes && navigator.mimeTypes.length && (a = navigator.mimeTypes["application/x-shockwave-flash"], b = !(!a || !a.enabledPlugin))) {c(a.enabledPlugin.description);return;}
    if ("undefined" != typeof ActiveXObject) {
        try {
            var d = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7");b = !0;c(d.GetVariable("$version"));return;
        } catch (e) {}
        try {
            d = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6");b = !0;
            return;
        } catch (e) {}
        try {
            d = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"), b = !0, c(d.GetVariable("$version"));
        } catch (e) {}
    }
    })();
    return b;
}

boolean isFlashVersion(version)

Returns if the flash version is greater than provided version

function isFlashVersion(version) {
    var e = String.prototype.trim ? function(a) {return a.trim()} : function(a) {return /^[\s\xa0]*([\s\S]*?)[\s\xa0]*$/.exec(a)[1]};
    function f(a, b) {return a < b ? -1 : a > b ? 1 : 0};
    var h = !1,l = "";
    function m(a) {a = a.match(/[\d]+/g);if (!a) {return ""}a.length = 3;return a.join(".")}
    (function() {
        if (navigator.plugins && navigator.plugins.length) {
            var a = navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"];
            if (a && (h = !0, a.description)) {l = m(a.description);return}
            if (navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash 2.0"]) {h = !0;l = "2.0.0.11";return}
        }
        if (navigator.mimeTypes && navigator.mimeTypes.length && (a = navigator.mimeTypes["application/x-shockwave-flash"], h = !(!a || !a.enabledPlugin))) {l = m(a.enabledPlugin.description);return}
        if ("undefined" != typeof ActiveXObject) {
            try {
                var b = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7");h = !0;l = m(b.GetVariable("$version"));return
            } catch (g) {}
            try {
                b = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6");h = !0;l = "6.0.21";return
            } catch (g) {}
            try {
                b = new ActiveXObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"), h = !0, l = m(b.GetVariable("$version"))
            } catch (g) {}
        }
    })();
    var n = l;
    return (function(a) {
        var b = 0,g = e(String(n)).split(".");
        a = e(String(a)).split(".");
        for (var p = Math.max(g.length, a.length), k = 0; 0 == b && k < p; k++) {
            var c = g[k] || "",d = a[k] || "";
            do {
                c = /(\d*)(\D*)(.*)/.exec(c) || ["", "", "", ""];d = /(\d*)(\D*)(.*)/.exec(d) || ["", "", "", ""];
                if (0 == c[0].length && 0 == d[0].length) {break}
                b = f(0 == c[1].length ? 0 : parseInt(c[1], 10), 0 == d[1].length ? 0 : parseInt(d[1], 10)) || f(0 == c[2].length, 0 == d[2].length) || f(c[2], d[2]);c = c[3];d = d[3]
            } while (0 == b);
        }
        return 0 <= b
    })(version)
}

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