Linux curl Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to curl on Linux, covering Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions including HTTP requests, file downloads, API interactions, and web data transfer.

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Table of Contents

1. curl Installation
2. curl Basics
3. HTTP Requests
4. File Downloads
5. Troubleshooting

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curl Installation

Install curl

Arch/CachyOS:

# Install curl
sudo pacman -S curl

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install curl

Fedora:

sudo dnf install curl

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curl Basics

Download File

Basic usage:

# Download file
curl -O https://example.com/file.txt

# -O = output (saves with original filename)

Save with Name

Custom filename:

# Save with custom name
curl -o output.txt https://example.com/file.txt

# -o = output (custom filename)

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HTTP Requests

GET Request

Basic GET:

# GET request
curl https://example.com

# Shows page content

POST Request

Send data:

# POST request
curl -X POST -d "data=value" https://example.com/api

# -X = method (HTTP method)
# -d = data (POST data)

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File Downloads

Follow Redirects

Handle redirects:

# Follow redirects
curl -L https://example.com/file

# -L = location (follows redirects)

Resume Download

Continue download:

# Resume interrupted download
curl -C - -O https://example.com/large-file.zip

# -C = continue (resumes from breakpoint)

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Troubleshooting

curl Not Found

Check installation:

# Check curl
which curl

# Install if missing
sudo pacman -S curl

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Summary

This guide covered curl usage, HTTP requests, and file downloads for Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions.

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Next Steps

• wget Guide - File downloads
• wget and curl Guide - Combined guide
• Network Utilities - Network tools
• curl Documentation: man curl

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This guide covers Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other Linux distributions. For distribution-specific details, refer to your distribution's documentation.