Linux-cliHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Use curl Command in Linux: Syntax and Examples

The curl command in Linux is used to transfer data from or to a server using various protocols like HTTP or FTP. You use it by typing curl [options] [URL] in the terminal to fetch or send data easily.

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Syntax

The basic syntax of the curl command is:

curl: The command itself.
[options]: Optional flags to modify behavior, like -X to specify HTTP method.
[URL]: The web address or server location you want to interact with.

bash

curl [options] [URL]

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Example

This example shows how to use curl to download the homepage of example.com and display it in the terminal.

bash

curl https://example.com

Output

<!doctype html>\n<html>\n<head>\n <title>Example Domain</title>\n ...</html>

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Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes include forgetting to specify the URL, using incorrect options, or expecting curl to save output to a file without the -o option.

For example, running curl https://example.com prints output to the terminal, but to save it you must use curl -o filename.html https://example.com.

bash

curl https://example.com

# Wrong: output goes to terminal

curl -o example.html https://example.com

# Right: output saved to example.html

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Quick Reference

Option	Description
-o [file]	Save output to a file instead of terminal
-I	Fetch only HTTP headers
-X [method]	Specify HTTP method like GET, POST, PUT
-d [data]	Send data in POST request
-L	Follow redirects automatically

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Key Takeaways

Use curl [options] [URL] to transfer data from or to a server.

Add -o filename to save output to a file instead of printing it.

Use -X to specify HTTP methods like POST or PUT.

Follow redirects with -L to get the final response.

Check headers only with -I to see server response info.