How to Download Files with cURL

If you've ever needed to download files or transfer data from one server to another, you've likely come across cURL. This versatile command-line tool is a favorite among developers and system administrators because of its simplicity and power. Whether you're grabbing a single file, automating a series of downloads, or working with APIs, cURL makes the process straightforward and efficient.

In this guide, we'll break down how to use cURL for downloading files, explore some practical examples, and introduce you to the different methods you can use to streamline your workflows. Whether you're a beginner or just looking to brush up on your cURL skills, this guide has you covered!

Basic File Download

To download a file with cURL, use the following command:

curl -O [URL]`

Replace [URL] with the direct link to the file. The -O option saves the file with its original name:

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

This will download file.zip into your current directory.

Download and Rename Files

If you want to save the file with a specific name, use the -o option:

curl -o newname.zip https://example.com/file.zip`

This command downloads the file as newname.zip.

Downloading Multiple Files

You can download multiple files by listing their URLs:

curl -O https://example.com/file1.zip -O https://example.com/file2.zip`

Each file will be saved with its original name.

Automating Downloads with MrScraper

If you frequently download files from various web pages, consider combining cURL with MrScraper. MrScraper automates the process of gathering URLs, which you can then use with cURL for seamless batch downloading.

Installing the cURL Command

Before using cURL, ensure it is installed on your system. On most Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS), cURL comes pre-installed. However, if you need to install it, use the following commands:

Linux:

sudo apt-get install curl`

macOS:

brew install curl`

Download the executable from the official cURL website for Windows.

Conclusion

cURL offers a flexible and powerful way to download files from the command line. Whether you are downloading individual files, renaming them, or handling multiple downloads, cURL provides an efficient solution. Remember to integrate it with MrScraper for enhanced automation in your web scraping tasks.