curl MacOS command

The MacOS curl command is a powerful tool for transferring data using various protocols. It can be used for making HTTP requests, downloading files, sending data to servers, and more. With its flexible options and easy-to-use syntax, curl is a must-have tool for developers and system administrators working in a MacOS environment.

curl Syntax:

curl [options] [URL]

Options:

Option	Description
-X, —request	Specify the request method
-H, —header	Include HTTP headers in the request
-d, —data	Send data in the request body
-o, —output	Write output to a file instead of stdout
-O, —remote-name	Write output to a file using remote name
-i, —include	Include the HTTP response headers in the output
-L, —location	Follow redirects
-v, —verbose	Make the operation more talkative
-I, —head	Fetch the headers only, no body

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
URL	The URL to make the request to

Caution

Exercise caution when using the curl command, especially when interacting with external URLs, as it can execute arbitrary code from the internet.

curl bash Examples:

Download a File

curl -O https://example.com/file.zip

Downloads a file from the specified URL and saves it with the original file name.

Save Response to File

curl -s https://example.com/api/data -o output.json

Retrieves data from an API endpoint and saves the response to a file named “output.json”.

Follow Redirects

curl -L https://example.com

Follows any redirects when accessing the specified URL.

Send POST Request with Data

curl -X POST https://example.com/api/post -d "key1=value1&key2=value2"

Sends a POST request with the specified data to the API endpoint.

Display Response Headers

curl -I https://example.com

Displays only the response headers of the specified URL.

Limit Transfer Speed

curl --limit-rate 1M https://example.com/largefile.zip

Limits the download transfer rate to 1 megabyte per second when retrieving a large file.

Tip

When using the curl command in MacOS, make sure to check the official documentation or man pages for a detailed list of options and features available. Additionally, always ensure that you are using curl responsibly and ethically, following any terms of service or usage guidelines for the APIs or websites you are interacting with.

How do I use curl in MacOS?

To use the curl command in MacOS, execute the following command:

curl --option <value>

How can I download a file using curl in MacOS?

To download a file using curl in MacOS, use the following command:

curl -O http://example.com/file.txt

How do I save the output of a curl command to a file in MacOS?

To save the output of a curl command to a file in MacOS, run the following command:

curl http://example.com/data.txt -o output.txt

How can I follow redirects with curl in MacOS?

To follow redirects with curl in MacOS, add the -L option to the command. Here’s an example:

curl -L http://example.com/redirectingURL

How do I set a specific user agent with curl in MacOS?

To set a specific user agent with curl in MacOS, use the -A option followed by the user agent string. For example:

curl -A "Mozilla/5.0" http://example.com

How can I send POST data with curl in MacOS?

To send POST data with curl in MacOS, use the -d option followed by the data to be sent. Here’s an example:

curl -d "param1=value1&param2=value2" -X POST http://example.com/api

How do I perform a HEAD request with curl in MacOS?

To perform a HEAD request with curl in MacOS, use the -I option. Here’s an example:

curl -I http://example.com

How can I download multiple files with curl in MacOS?

To download multiple files with curl in MacOS, list the URLs separated by spaces in a single command. For example:

curl -O http://example.com/file1.txt http://example.com/file2.txt

Applications of the curl command

• Download files from the internet
• Upload files to a server
• Send and receive data over various protocols (HTTP, FTP, etc.)
• Automate web-related tasks
• Troubleshoot network-related issues