:PROPERTIES:
:ID:       dd64a585-6fa1-438e-9e0d-5775c0d55c37
:END:
#+title: Command line: cURL
#+date: "2021-06-04 10:56:52 +08:00"
#+date_modified: "2021-10-24 22:02:49 +08:00"
#+language: en
#+property: header-args  :eval no


The all-time favorite client-side networking tool for basic stuff.
It is seriously one of the best free and open-source tool out there with the plethora of protocols, leading implementation for various protocols such as HTTP3, and a lot of configurable options to fully control your request.




* Synopsis

#+begin_src
curl [option...] [URL...]
#+end_src

cURL supports creating requests with different protocols.
Among them are HTTP, Gopher, DICT, and simple file.
To see more, you can view the cURL manual page (i.e., ~man curl.1~) and see the protocols section.




* Options

- =-o [FILE], --output [FILE]= - save the results in the given file
- =-O, --remote-name= - save the results as the remote name; useful for downloading
- =-L, --location= - if there redirects, follow them; mainly used in HTTP and download links that often redirects to the real location




* Examples

This is a massive tool with a massive history so a massive list may be justified for this one.


** Basic usage

#+begin_src bash
# It will be recognized as a request to an HTTP endpoint in 'gnu.org'.
curl https://gnu.org

# Save the result in a file.
curl https://foo-dogsquared.github.io --output filename
#+end_src


** Go-to command for downloading files with cURL

#+begin_src bash
curl -LO https://cdn.media.ccc.de/events/lac/lac18/h264-hd/lac18-24-eng-Carla_Plugin_Host_-_Feature_overview_and_workflows_hd.mp4
#+end_src

It can be also written like the following code block.
Useful when scripting to make it readable.

#+begin_src bash
curl --location --output-name https://cdn.media.ccc.de/events/lac/lac18/h264-hd/lac18-24-eng-Carla_Plugin_Host_-_Feature_overview_and_workflows_hd.mp4
#+end_src