This article covers the most effective methods to download files, including , curl , and faster alternatives like aria2 , while highlighting their specific use cases. Table of Contents How to Use wget (The Most Popular Method) How to Use curl (The Versatile Tool) Advanced Downloading & Speed Optimization Wget vs. Curl: Which One to Choose? 1. How to Use wget (The Most Popular Method)
Use lowercase -o to set a custom output name: curl -o customname.zip https://example.com Use code with caution.
aria2c -x 16 -s 16 https://example.com/largefile.zip (Downloads with 16 parallel connections). download files linux terminal
For large files, use -b to run the download in the background.
aria2 is a lightweight, multi-protocol command-line download utility that supports parallel connections, meaning it downloads a file using multiple connections simultaneously for increased speed. Install: sudo apt install aria2 This article covers the most effective methods to
To download a file with curl , you must use the -O (output) flag to save it with the remote filename: curl -O https://example.com Use code with caution. Common curl Scenarios:
If a URL redirects (common on file-sharing sites), use -L to follow it: curl -L -O https://example.com Use code with caution. For large files, use -b to run the
Downloading files via the Linux terminal is a fundamental skill for system administrators, developers, and power users. Unlike graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the terminal offers speed, automation, and the ability to download files on headless servers.
