why we need user_agent_alias with mechanize object?

Question

I just wondering for some informations about mechanize and found the below code from Internet:

require 'mechanize'
require 'logger'
agent = Mechanize.new
agent.user_agent_alias = 'Windows IE 9'
agent.follow_meta_refresh = true
agent.log = Logger.new(STDOUT)

Could any one please explain why user_agent_alias and follow_meta_refresh is needed when,mechanize itself is a browser?

Answer 1

Mechanize isn't a browser. It is a page parser that gives you enough methods to make it easy/convenient to navigate through a site. But, in no way is it a browser.

user_agent_alias sets the signature of Mechanize when it's running and making page requests. In your example it's trying to spoof a site by masquerading as "IE 9", but that signature isn't going to fool any system that is sniffing the User-Agent header.

follow_meta_refresh, well, you should take the time to search for "meta" tags with the "refresh" parameter. It's trivial to find out about it, and, then you'll understand. Or just read the documentation for it.