wget for file downloads in Linux CLI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is wget used for in Linux?

wget is a command-line tool used to download files from the internet. It works like a simple helper that fetches files from websites or servers to your computer.

beginner

How do you download a single file using wget?

Use the command wget <URL>. For example, wget https://example.com/file.txt downloads file.txt to your current folder.

intermediate

What option do you use with wget to continue a download if it was interrupted?

Use -c or --continue. This tells wget to resume downloading from where it stopped instead of starting over.

intermediate

How can you save a downloaded file with a different name using wget?

Use the -O option followed by the new filename. Example: wget https://example.com/file.txt -O newname.txt saves the file as newname.txt.

intermediate

What does the --limit-rate option do in wget?

It limits the download speed to avoid using all your internet bandwidth. For example, --limit-rate=200k limits speed to 200 kilobytes per second.

Which command downloads a file from the internet using wget?

A download https://example.com/file.zip

B wget https://example.com/file.zip

C fetch https://example.com/file.zip

D getfile https://example.com/file.zip

wget is the correct command to download files from the internet in Linux.

How do you resume a partially downloaded file with wget?

A wget --continue-download

B wget --resume

C wget --start

D wget -c

The -c option tells wget to continue an interrupted download.

Which option saves the downloaded file with a different name?

A -O

B -N

C -S

D -R

The -O option lets you specify a new filename for the downloaded file.

What does --limit-rate=100k do in a wget command?

A Limits download speed to 100 kilobytes per second

B Limits download to 100 files

C Limits download to 100 megabytes total

D Limits download to 100 seconds

This option limits the download speed to 100 KB/s to save bandwidth.

If you want to download multiple files listed in a text file, which wget option do you use?

A -l

B -m

C -i

D -r

The -i option tells wget to read URLs from a file and download them one by one.

Explain how to download a file using wget and save it with a different name.

Think about how you tell wget where to save the file.

Describe how to resume an interrupted download with wget and why it is useful.

Consider what happens if your internet cuts out during a download.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of the wget command in Linux?

easy

A. To download files from the internet

B. To upload files to a server

C. To list files in a directory

D. To edit text files

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the function of wget

   The wget command is designed to retrieve files from the internet using HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP protocols.

2. Step 2: Compare options with wget's purpose

   Uploading files, listing directories, or editing text are not functions of wget. It only downloads files.

3. Final Answer:

   To download files from the internet -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   wget downloads files [OK]

Hint: Remember: wget = get files from web [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing wget with upload commands like scp
• Thinking wget edits or lists files
• Assuming wget is for local file operations

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to download a file from http://example.com/file.txt using wget?

easy

A. wget -d http://example.com/file.txt

B. wget http://example.com/file.txt

C. wget download http://example.com/file.txt

D. wget -save http://example.com/file.txt

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall basic wget syntax

   The basic command to download a file is simply wget URL without extra flags.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   wget -d http://example.com/file.txt uses an invalid flag -d. wget download http://example.com/file.txt adds an unnecessary word download. wget -save http://example.com/file.txt uses a non-existent flag -save. Only wget http://example.com/file.txt is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   wget http://example.com/file.txt -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Basic wget syntax = wget URL [OK]

Hint: Use just 'wget' plus URL to download [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding extra words or flags not supported by wget
• Using incorrect or made-up options
• Confusing wget syntax with other commands

3. What will be the output filename when you run wget http://example.com/data.csv in your current directory?

medium

A. index.html

B. downloaded_file

C. http://example.com/data.csv

D. data.csv

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand wget default naming

   By default, wget saves the downloaded file with the same name as in the URL's last part, here data.csv.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   index.html is default for HTML pages without filename. http://example.com/data.csv is invalid as wget does not save with full URL as filename. downloaded_file is arbitrary and not default.

3. Final Answer:

   data.csv -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Filename = last URL part = data.csv [OK]

Hint: Filename defaults to last part of URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting wget to rename files automatically
• Confusing default HTML save name with other files
• Thinking wget saves full URL as filename

4. You run wget -c http://example.com/bigfile.zip but it restarts download from zero instead of resuming. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The URL is incorrect

B. You forgot to add the -r option

C. The server does not support resuming downloads

D. wget cannot download zip files

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand -c option in wget

   The -c option tells wget to continue/resume an interrupted download if the server supports it.

2. Step 2: Identify why resume fails

   If the server does not support partial content requests, wget cannot resume and restarts from zero. Other options or file types do not affect this behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   The server does not support resuming downloads -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   -c needs server support [OK]

Hint: Resume needs server support, else restart [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking -r is for resume (it's for recursive)
• Assuming wget can't download zip files
• Blaming URL without checking server features

5. You want to download multiple files listed in urls.txt using wget, saving each with its original name. Which command correctly does this?

hard

A. wget -i urls.txt

B. wget -o urls.txt

C. wget --save-urls urls.txt

D. wget -c urls.txt

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand wget options for multiple downloads

   The -i option tells wget to read URLs from a file and download each one.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   -o is for log file output, not URLs. --save-urls is not a valid option. -c is for resuming downloads, not reading URL lists.

3. Final Answer:

   wget -i urls.txt -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use -i to read URLs from file [OK]

Hint: Use -i to download from URL list file [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using -o instead of -i for input file
• Assuming -c reads URL lists
• Trying non-existent options like --save-urls