plugin detection using php

[laura2k]

is there anyway to actually do a plugin detection using php? at the moment i am using a javascript that checks a users system to see if they have a realplayer plugin installed, if yes it displays a realplay page and if not it displays an error.html file

i came across a few sites that do a similar detection but they dont use javascript, it seems to use cookies or something.

please could anyone help me out.

many thanx in advance.

[YorkshireSteve]

As far as I'm aware, you can't detect a plugin using PHP. The JavaScript code sits in the browser, where it can sniff around for plugins etc. The PHP code sits on your webserver, and can't see your plugins.