By default, curl outputs data to the terminal. To save a file, you must use specific flags:
Use --output-dir (available in curl 7.73+) to specify a target folder.
Use -o (lowercase) followed by your desired filename. curl -o my_download.zip https://example.com/file.zip Use code with caution.
Modern web servers often use redirects or require authentication. curl provides flags to handle these scenarios seamlessly:
Use -O (uppercase) to save the file exactly as it is named on the server. curl -O https://example.com/file.zip Use code with caution.
The command is one of the most powerful tools in a developer's arsenal for transferring data from servers via terminal. Unlike basic browsers, curl (Client URL) allows for deep automation, session management, and complex protocol handling directly within shell scripts. 1. Fundamental Download Commands
curl --output-dir /tmp/downloads --create-dirs -O https://example.com/file.zip Use code with caution. 2. Handling Complex Downloads