The curl command (short for "Client URL") is a staple in the Linux terminal, primarily used for transferring data to and from a server. While widely known for testing APIs, it is one of the most efficient tools for downloading files directly from the command line. Basic Download Commands
Simple downloads often fail due to redirects or flaky connections. These flags help manage complex transfers: How to resume interrupted download automatically in curl? download with curl linux
To download a file and keep its remote name, use the uppercase -O (short for --remote-name ) flag. curl -O https://example.com/archive.zip Use code with caution. The curl command (short for "Client URL") is
Use the lowercase -o (short for --output ) to save the download with a specific name. curl -o my_backup.zip https://example.com/archive.zip Use code with caution. Handling Modern Download Challenges These flags help manage complex transfers: How to
By default, curl prints the content of a URL directly to your terminal. To save this data as a file, you must use specific flags: