CURL is a command-line tool that allows making HTTP requests to test APIs and supports a wide range of options and protocols, making it a powerful tool for tasks like downloading files, testing APIs, and performing various network-related tasks. In this section, we'll see how to use cURL to send GET requests.
If you want to know more about cURL, recommend reading this article:
Jason Chan
What is an HTTP GET Request?
A GET request is one of the HTTP methods used by the World Wide Web. It is a type of request that a client (such as a web browser) makes to a web server to retrieve or get data from a specified resource. In simpler terms, a GET request is used when you want to retrieve information from a server.
David Demir
When you enter a URL into a web browser and press Enter, the browser typically sends a GET request to the server specified in the URL. This request asks the server to provide the requested resource, which could be a web page, an image, a file, or any other type of data.
Here's a basic example of a Curl GET request:
curl -X GET https://api.example.com/resource
In this example:
curl: invokes the cURL command.-X GET: specifies that it's a GET request (though it's optional as cURL defaults to GET if not specified explicitly).https://api.example.com/resource: is the URL of the resource you're requesting.
David Demir
How to Send GET Requests with cURL
To send a GET request using cURL, you can use the curl command in your terminal or command prompt. Here's a basic example:
curl https://www.example.com
This simple command sends a GET request to https://www.example.com and prints the server's response to the terminal.
You can also include various options and additional parameters with the cURL command. Here are a few examples:
Step 1. Adding Headers:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" https://api.example.com/data
In this example, the -H option is used to include an Authorization header with a bearer token.
Step 2. Following Redirects:
curl -L https://www.example.com
The -L option tells cURL to follow redirects. If the server responds with a redirect (HTTP status code 3xx), cURL will automatically request the new location.
Step 3. Saving Output to a File:
curl -o output.html https://www.example.com
The -o option is used to save the output to a file. In this case, the response from the server will be saved to a file named output.html.
Step 4. Passing Query Parameters:
curl "https://api.example.com/data?param1=value1¶m2=value2"
You can include query parameters in the URL to send additional information to the server. This helps validate that the API returns the correct status code like 200 OK.
Apidog: A Visual Way to Send GET Request
Although cURL is an open-source tool, it may be difficult to use at once for developers unfamiliar with command line calls. But do not worry, introducing a more intuitive white can also quickly learn the way, that is to use Apidog.
Apidog streamlines API processes with testing, debugging, design, mocking, and documentation tools. Its user-friendly interface fosters collaboration, optimizing API testing and facilitating JSON/XML schema creation.
Notably, Apidog excels in customizable, visually appealing API response documentation and user-friendly testing tools with assertions and testing branches.
The Guide on How to Send GET Requests in Apidog
- Sign up or download: Download the Apidog platform for Windows, Mac or Linux.
2. Import cURL Commands: Access the Apidog import window. Paste cURL commands into the text box for seamless integration. Then utilize any package capture tool.
3. Configure Request parameters: Navigate to the API body. Set the frequency of API headers, body, and other settings.
4. Test and Refine: Send the API to receive a response. Review logs, analyze performance metrics, and optimize automated API calls for reliability and efficiency.
Conclusion
For beginners, the GUI-based tool Apidog is recommended, offering an intuitive interface for easy API requests. Apidog is compatible with cURL, allowing seamless import and export of commands.
While Apidog is user-friendly, cURL provides richer functionality. For optimal results, using both tools together is suggested: Apidog for simplicity and cURL for advanced features.
