What is Safari built on?

Safari is a popular browser that allows users to browse websites, open multiple sites, and bookmark favorites.

The web browser is built using the WebKit engine, making it one of the fast browsers that support the latest HTML 5 standard.

The Safari website was created using the open-source Konqueror web browser alongside its KHTML engine. But Apple then placed its own code in the Konqueror code place and added many improvements on KHTML, making WebKit a completely unique engine. 

So, what’s the WebKit engine?

Developed by Apple, WebKit is a robust browser engine specifically for Safari web browser and all iOS web browsers. However, its versatility has seen it feature in BlackBerry Browser, the Tizen mobile operating systems, PlayStation consoles (from the PS3), and the Amazon Kindle e-book reader browsers. 

WebKit uses the C++ API (application programming interface), which offers classes to display web content and implement browser features like managing a back-forward list, links when users click on them and driving the recently visited page history. 

WebKit supports Linux macOS, Windows, and Unix-like OSes. It’s JavaScript and HTML began as a branch of KJS libraries and KHTML. With time, the joint efforts of Apple, Nokia, BlackBerry, Bitstream, 

Sony, Google, Igalia, etc., have seen significant improvements in how WebKit works. 

Forked WebCore by Google, released in 2013, is a WebKit component and will have significant application in google chromes and opera mini future versions under Blink’s name. WebKit has had many achievements, including being the first to support turning off Adobe Flash by default. 

Currently, Safari on Mac OS is on version 11.1. this version comes with the latest features, such as an upgraded Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP). ITP is crucial in preventing specific websites from tracking the web pages you browse on other websites, and this process is typically referred to as cross-site tracking.

By contrast, on iOS, Safari shares its latest version, i.e., Safari 12.1, with the iOS version. 

JavaScript Detect Safari Version 2020

JavaScript can help you detect the type of browser on which your current page is running. This is attainable due to the existence of the object known as the navigator. Ideally, the navigator bears information concerning a particular browser. 

Specifically, the JavaScript navigator object can give you many browser information, including appName, appCodeName, and userAgent. 

When you use the navigator object’s userAgent property, the browser sends you the user-agent header string. The user-agent series will contain information about your browser it details, where it will include specific keywords, which you need to test if they are present.

By contrast, if you want to check if a specific user-string is present, you can use the indexOf() method. This method typically returns the foremost occurrences of a specified user-string value within a string. If the value doesn’t appear in a string, you get -1. 

If you want to access your browser’s user-agent string, you can access it using the navigator—userAgent property and store it in a variable. If you’re going to detect the existence of strings of browsers in user-agent, you’ll need to do it one by one. 

Keep in mind that the navigator object is merely a window property. Therefore, you can only access it in two ways – window.navigator, and navigator. 

Detecting version 2020 of Safari browser

First, you have to point out essential things before embarking on detecting the browser version, more precisely, the user-agent. For Safari Browser, the user-agent is Safari. The value “Safari” is usually passed to the indexOf() method, where it is detected in the user-agent string.

However, you require one additional check because the chrome browser user-agent also encompasses the Safari browser’s user-agent. If both user-agents of Safari and Chrome are present within the user-agent, it implies that that browser is chrome. Therefore, it will discard the value Safari Browser. 

Detect Safari Browser Version JavaScript

It is possible to display and browser and its version on the screen using JavaScript. This may require you to understand some things such as:

1. Navigator object

This is an essential aspect of the browser detection process as it unveils important browser information, including userAgent. Ideally, it is a window property, and therefore, it comes in two ways – window.navigator, or the navigator. 

Keep in mind that no public standard for navigator object exists. However, you’ll find it on all major web browsers. 

Properties of the navigator object

Common properties include:

Navigator Object Methods

• taintEnabled(): checks for data tainting 
• javaEnabled(): determines whether or not the browser is Java enabled 

1. UserAgent property

This property will return the value of the user-agent header that the browser sends to the server. The value generated contains information regarding the version, name, and platform of the browser. Note that it’s a read-only property, and it is found on all major browsers. Its syntax is navigator.userAgent. 

1. indexOf()

This is a JavaScript String that returns the foremost occurrence of a stated value in a string. If the value doesn’t occur, it returns -1. 

4 Ways to Detect Safari Browser with JavaScript

These four methods include:

• Extraction of information from the user agent and checking if it contains the name of the browser. For example, to check for Safari browser – if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf(“Safari”) != -1)
• Make use of a detection library like Bowser.
• Detecting the CSS vendor prefix, i.e., Checking if the browser supports Moz, WebKit, or MS.
• Browser duck typing – it involves checking for all the unique features of the browser.

Window.safari JavaScript

The window.navigator is an object containing information about the visitor’s browser. Ideally, the window interface is a window that contains the DOM document. Remember that a document property points to the loaded DOM document in that specific window. 

You can obtain a window for a particular document using the document—defaultView property. But there is also a variable window. Typically, this window represents a window on which the script is running and is exposed to the JavaScript code.

Window Navigator

As earlier indicated, you can write the window.navigator object without the window prefix. Here are some basic examples:

• navigator.appName
• navigator.platform
• navigator.appCodeName

The window hosts a lot of objects, namespaces, functions, and constructors. While these aspects are fundamental, they may not have any association with a user interface window’s primary idea. Nonetheless, the Window interface is an ideal place to add these items – they are required to be available globally. Actually, the majority of these features and functions are documented in the DOM Reference and JavaScript Reference.

JavaScript Window

Ideally, this is the Browser Object Model (BOM), and it lets JavaScript “communicate with” the safari browser. Note that the BOM doesn’t have official standards. Modern browsers implement almost similar methods and properties for their JavaScript interactivity. As such, it is commonly called methods and properties of the BOM.

The Window Object

The window object is supported by All browsers, and it truly represents a browser’s window. Global JavaScript functions, variables as well as objects become members of the window object spontaneously. Here is the breakdown:

Global variables represent the window object’s properties, while the Global functions represent methods of the window object. Additionally, the document object is normally a property of window object. These two strings are similar:

window.document.getElementById(“header”)

and 

document.getElementById(“header”)

The size of the browser window is determined by two properties, which return the size in pixels. They are:

• window.innerHeight – showing the inner height of the browser’s window
• window.innerWidth -representing the inner width of your browser’s window. 

JavaScript is iOS Safari

You’ll find JavaScript on almost all websites – that makes it a popular programming language for websites. The reason why most web browsers and websites use JavaScript is that it makes the web pages to be more dynamic and extremely interactive. In turn, the web pages can quickly respond to inputs and prompts from elements such as text inputs and buttons. 

Another remarkable feature is that you do not need plug-ins when using JavaScript because the browser can interpret the JavaScript code. As much as JavaScript is popular, many people confuse it with Java. These are entirely different programming languages. Ideally, their development is very different – the only uniform thing is a section of their name. 

Every iPhone uses JavaScript. If you own an iPhone, most likely that you cannot view a lot of pages satisfactorily. They won’t display at all on your iPhone’s Safari browser. Therefore, any device running on iOS comes with JavaScript in default form. Any disablement will break multiple websites on your Apple devices. 

It’s true; JavaScript on iPhone has multiple uses; some people have taken advantage of their versatility to hack browsers. For instance, some users inject marquis search spam in the safari browser; this can have many adverse effects. That’s why people who are skeptical or worry about their privacy block JavaScript all the time. 

Blocking JavaScript on Safari iPad or iPhone

• Go to the Settings app, and then scroll to choose Safari browser
• Within the Safari browse, there is the Advanced Menu icon at the bottom end; scroll to find it 
• Please turn off the JavaScript button by toggling it and disable execution.

Enable JavaScript

This is easy now: 

• Go to the setting icon and locate Safari 
• Tap on the Safari Icon and locate the advanced menu to get access to these advanced settings 
• There is JavaScript setting control; slide it towards the right, an action that enables it. 

JavaScript Detect iOS Safari

You can detect iOS devices on Safari browsers easily using JavaScript. However, only specific methods that can give you accurate results. 

Therefore, if you want to establish the true name of a web browser quickly, you can use one of the following:

• navigator.appName
• navigator.userAgent properties

However, using the userAgent property will give you more reliable results than using the appName.

Note that device detection is very valuable to designers as it helps them optimize web pages for the type of device accessing it. Additionally, it offers a granular detailing level important to Programmatic Advertising. This makes it more effective when targeting real users. 

Browsers like Safari are more specific to Apple devices, and they work exceptionally well, thanks to accurate designing. 

Look, a web designer can optimize page layouts for a specific input method and screen sizes. 

Besides, designers can improve performance by minimizing the data amount sent to devices on a slower internet connection. 

The key things to consider while optimizing are the type of device, i.e., a tablet, a smartphone feature phone, or desktop. Additionally, input methods and screens’ physical dimensions matter.

Detecting iOS devices can be a little complex. But there are a number of methods to use to detect them. These include:

• User-Agent HTTP headers
• CPU stress testing
• WebGL API
• Screen dimensions and pixel density

To implement User-Agent HTTP headers, WebGL API, and Screen dimensions and pixel density, you require JavaScript snippets and data. However, the most effective method is the WebGL API.

• User-Agent – it identifies input methods and type of device, and it works hugely faster. However, it misses crucial screen info 
• WebGL API – it covers close to 90 percent of cases when GPU is identifiable. If not, it returns based on screen size. Its limitation is it doesn’t give information until a second website request 
• Stress Testing – good for granular model info      
• Screen Dimensions – provides more data when used with user-agent 

Enable JavaScript Safari iPhone

It is undeniable that all significant websites currently rely on JavaScript. That’s why they have an interactive element not found in the older websites. Modern websites are just not colorful. Additionally, websites aren’t just white with images and texts. Instead, JavaScript is currently is an essential tool that controls all the dynamic elements of website pages. 

Any page on the web without JavaScript will, undoubtedly, not run correctly, even on the Apple Safari browser. Some people argue that when you disable JavaScript increases the loading speed. That is very true. However, it affects the overall browsing experiencing negatively. 

Remember, the Safari browser, by default, allows JavaScript execution. However, you can control this – allowing and disabling it within the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad.

Enabling JavaScript On Safari ​

Enabling JavaScript on your Safari web browser isn’t much of a hassle. But note that when it is turned off, many websites won’t work as they should. Precisely, certain functions won’t appear, or specific content won’t display – therefore, you won’t enjoy them. 

In such a case, you have to turn the JavaScript settings on:

On the Home Screen, locate the Safari Icon. 

Tap it to reveal the settings icon. Once you locate the settings, tap it, and scroll to find and select “Safari.” 

THE Safari menu has lots of items – scroll until the foot of the list, and you’ll find “Advanced.” Select this option, an action that exposes you to advanced settings for the Safari browser.

The most crucial feature in the advanced menu is to disable or enable the Safari browser’s JavaScript. Therefore, locate the option named JavaScript, and next to it, you’ll see a button. 

The JavaScript button on the safari browser can move to the right and left. Toggle the switch towards the right side. This action turns on JavaScript. 

If you want to enable JavaScript on your iPhone, you’ll have to follow the same procedure. 

JavaScript Detect browser

Here is the authentic way of detecting a browser using JavaScript.

This method involves using jQuery to detect the browser. While visiting websites, there is a lot of information that people can get, including IP address, Browser, Service Provider, etc. Most websites use Google Analytics, among other analytic programs, to track the number of visitors, the amount of time they spent on a website, and any other essential details. What’s more, advanced websites can track keyboard and mouse activities.

But with JavaScript, you can easily detect scripts on browsers and the type of browsers you are using. 

It is effortless to detect the type of browser other people are using with JavaScript. JavaScript comes with a standard object named navigator. The navigator contains data about the browser you or someone else is using. It represents the identity and the state of the user agent. But it allows all the scripts to query it as well as register to carry some activities. 

Retrieving the navigator object can only be done using a read-only window.navigator property. Though the navigator object features a lot of stuff, the .userAgent property is the most important. The .userAgent property is simply a string that has information about the browser OS.

Navigator object properties include:

• Navigator.connection: this is a Read-only aspect providing NetworkInformation, i.e., an object containing data about a device’s network connection. 
• Navigator.cookieEnabled: ignoring a cookie returns false or else, true. 
• Navigator.credentials: notifies users in case interesting events occur by returning the CredentialsContainer interface.
• Navigator.deviceMemory: returns device’s memory in GB. 

Others include Navigator.locks, NavigatorLanguage.languages, Navigator.keyboard, NavigatorPlugins.javaEnabled and NavigatorConcurrentHardware.hardwareConcurrency. 

Essentially, the JavaScript/jQuery navigator object has data about the browser being used. But the .userAgent property features a string that contains data concerning the browser and operating system.

In case you want to look for a string for a match, use the match() function, which is an inbuilt function.  

Conclusion 

Though JavaScript is a popular programming language, it is the most misunderstood. Most users often term it as a to when it comes to programming as it looks pretty straightforward. Unknown to many, JavaScript has a wide range of features, making it a robust option for many websites. 

High profile apps currently use JavaScript, which shows that their more in-depth knowledge is essential in mobile and web development. 

Created in 1995 and first released in 1996, JavaScript has seen massive improvements, i.e., evolving from a simple language to a more sophisticated but robust. 

It is a dynamic multi-paradigm language featuring standard inbuilt objects, types and operators, and methods. The syntax of JavaScript is based on Java and C languages. Good thing; JavaScript supports object-oriented programming using object prototypes instead of classes. Besides, it supports functional programming.

Web browsers utilize JavaScript to develop dynamic and interactive interfaces. Typically, most modern applications, including web browsers, utilize JavaScript coding. 

That’s why browsers like Safari are robust interactive, and dynamic. This browser works the fastest on iOS but slightly lags on Mac. 

Placing together Safari and JavaScript in handy on apple devices. However, JavaScript is equally powerful on other browsers -chrome and Mozilla. 

Data from Safari doesn’t sync directly via the browser. Rather, this data is taken as part of the regular iCloud sync, available on OS X and iOS.