Skype has become one of the most popular communication platforms in recent years, allowing users to connect with people all over the world through instant messaging, voice and video calls. As a web developer, you may find yourself wondering if there is a way to detect if a user has Skype installed on their device using JavaScript. In this article, we will explore the different methods of detecting Skype and how you can implement them in your web applications.
First, let's understand why detecting Skype can be useful. As a website owner, you may want to provide your users with the option to contact you through Skype. By detecting if the user has Skype installed, you can display a Skype button or link, making it easier for them to reach out to you. Additionally, if you are building a web application that requires video or voice communication, you can use this detection to prompt the user to use Skype for their calls.
So, how can we detect Skype using JavaScript? One way is to use the navigator.plugins property. This property provides information about the browser's installed plugins, and Skype is one of them. We can check if the navigator.plugins array contains the Skype plugin using the following code:
if (navigator.plugins.namedItem("Skype")) {
// Skype is installed
} else {
// Skype is not installed
}
Another method is by using the window.external object. This object is only available if the user has Skype installed and is logged in. By calling the window.external.skype object, we can check if Skype is installed and retrieve information such as the user's Skype name and status.
if (window.external.skype) {
// Skype is installed
var skypeName = window.external.skype.Name;
var skypeStatus = window.external.skype.Status;
} else {
// Skype is not installed
}
It is essential to note that this method will only work on Internet Explorer, as other browsers do not support the window.external object.
If you want to detect Skype on all browsers, you can use the Skype Web SDK. This SDK provides a set of JavaScript functions that allow you to integrate Skype into your web application. By using the Skype Web SDK, you can detect if Skype is installed, retrieve the user's Skype status, and even initiate Skype calls directly from your web application.
To use the Skype Web SDK, you will need to register your application with the Skype Developer Platform and obtain an API key. Once you have your API key, you can use the following code to check if Skype is installed and retrieve the user's status:
var client = new Skype.Web.Model.Application({
apiKey: 'your-api-key'
});
client.signInManager.state.changed(function (state) {
if (state === 'SignedIn') {
// Skype is installed and user is logged in
var skypeName = client.personsAndGroupsManager.mePerson.displayName();
var skypeStatus = client.personsAndGroupsManager.mePerson.status();
} else {
// Skype is not installed or user is not logged in
}
});
In conclusion, detecting Skype using JavaScript is possible, and there are multiple methods to achieve it. Whether you want to display a Skype button on your website or integrate Skype into your web application, the options mentioned above will help you achieve your goal. With the increasing popularity of Skype, incorporating it into your web applications can enhance user experience and make communication more accessible. So go ahead and give it a try!
