asdg>> technotes>> detecting the flash player

Version: Flash 2+
Date Added: June 18, 1998
Last Updated: December 2, 2002

Here are some techniques for detecting the Flash Player. Bear in mind that due to browser issues, Flash Player detection is *never* perfect. If at all possible, you should list basic system requirements on your website and allow users to choose their entry path manually. You have been warned.

Note that if you simply want to detect the version of Flash from within a Flash movie, you can use $version, getVersion(), or System.capabilities.version--all of which are documented by Macromedia and in ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide.

  • the moock fpi [fLASH pLAYER iNSPECTOR]
    the moock fpi is an all-purpose javascript/vbscript detection system to handle all possible flash player detection scenarios. of all flash detection methods listed at moock.org, this is the preferred and recommended system. the moock fpi allows for both page redirection and dynamic page content-swapping (as you might need for a flash banner ad).
  • flash detection and deployment lecture
    the lecture notes from my flash detection session at flash forward 2000, new york city.
  • detect flash 3.0 only (ARTICLE RETIRED)
    an old article. rendered obsolete by the moock fpi. contains a script that automatically prevents flash 2 enabled browsers from viewing specifically flash 3 content while directing as many flash users as possible to the flash content. see the flash 2+ detection for full description of the methodology.
  • detect flash 2.0 and 3.0 (ARTICLE RETIRED)
    an old article. rendered obsolete by the moock fpi. contains a script and tutorial that shows how to automatically send most flash 2+ enabled browsers to view flash 2 compatible content while offering a non-flash option to others.
  • detect flash 4.0r10 and earlier inside flash
    shows how to apply internal detection techniques to old versions of the flash player. useful for detecting the version of the player from within flash when the player is too old to support the $version property introduced in 4.0r11, and later replaced by the getVersion() function.