I often need to download files from the internet or request HTTP to various web APIs. There are a few different tools that I can use to do this, but two of the most popular are wget and curl.
In this article, I’ll be comparing wget vs curl and discussing the pros and cons of each tool.
What is wget?
Wget is a command-line utility that allows you to download files from the internet. Initially developed for Unix-like operating systems, it was also ported to Windows.
wget supports HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP.
One of the great things about wget is its straightforward use.
You need to type a command like this:
wget https://techcolleague.com/file.zip This will download the file at the URL and save it to your working directory. You can also specify a different output filename or directory using the -O flag:
wget -O /path/to/output/directory/filename.zip https://techcolleague.com/file.zipWget has some other useful flags that you can use to customize your download. For example, you can use the -c flag to resume a partially-downloaded file, the -r flag to download files from a website recursively, or the -k flag to convert links in downloaded HTML files to point to locally-downloaded files.
What is curl?
Curl is another command-line utility that allows you to make HTTP requests and receive responses. Like wget, it was initially developed for Unix-like operating systems but was also ported to Windows.
Curl supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, TFTP, DICT, LDAP, LDAPS, FILE, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, RTMP, TELNET, and RTSP.
Curl is more versatile than wget, as it can be used for various tasks beyond downloading files. For example, you can use curl to send POST or PUT requests to web APIs or to upload files to a server.
To download a file with curl, you can use a command like this:
curl -O https://techcolleague.com/file.zipThis will download and save the file to your current working directory with the same filename as the original file. You can specify a different output filename using the -o flag:
curl -o /path/to/output/directory/filename.zip https://techcolleague.com/file.zipLike wget, curl has other flags you can use to customize your HTTP requests. For example, you can use the -X flag to specify a different HTTP method, send data in the request body, or set HTTP headers.
Comparison of wget vs curl
Now that we’ve covered the basics of wget and curl, let’s compare the two tools and discuss some of the pros and cons of each.
Recursive Download
Compared to other popular tools like curl, wget’s major strength is its ability to recursively download files and directories. This means it can traverse a website’s directory structure, allowing users to request multiple files or even entire websites with just one command.
It also supports downloads over FTP and HTTP protocols, as well as support for many more rich features. This makes wget an incredibly versatile tool that can easily and precisely accomplish various advanced download tasks.
Ease of use
Regarding ease of use, both wget and curl are reasonably straightforward. However, I would give the edge to wget here, as it’s generally simpler for basic download tasks. Wget has fewer options and flags, so remembering the command-line syntax is often easier.
Curl is a bit more powerful and flexible than wget, but this also means that it can be a bit more complex to use. For example, you may need to specify multiple flags to customize your HTTP request, whereas, with wget, you can often get away with just using a single flag.
However, the fact that curl can be used for more than just downloading files may be the better choice in certain situations where you need more control over your HTTP requests.
Speed
Regarding download speed, both wget and curl are generally fast, especially when downloading from a local network or a high-bandwidth connection. However, wget has a slight edge due to its use of multiple connections to download a file in parallel.
By default, wget will use up to 16 connections to download a file, which can significantly increase the download speed in certain situations. Curl does not have this capability, although you can use the --limit-rate flag to limit the download speed if needed.
Security
Regarding security, both wget and curl offer options for secure downloads over HTTPS. Both tools support SSL certificate verification and support for various encryption algorithms.
However, curl has a few additional security features that make it the better choice in certain situations. For example, curl supports client certificate authentication options and a secure transfer SSH tunnel.
Compatibility
Regarding compatibility, both wget and curl are available on various operating systems, including Unix-like systems, Windows, and macOS. However, wget is more commonly found on Unix-like systems, while curl is more commonly found on Windows and macOS.
If you’re working on a Unix-like system and need to download a file, you’re more likely to have wget already installed. On the other hand, if you’re working on Windows or macOS, you’re more likely to have curl installed.
Conclusion
Wget and curl are useful command-line utilities for downloading files and making HTTP requests. Wget is generally easier to use and faster for basic download tasks, while curl is more versatile and has additional security features.
Ultimately, the choice between wget and curl will depend on your specific needs and the requirements of your project. If you need to download a few files, wget may be the better choice. If you need more control over your HTTP requests or need to perform more advanced tasks, curl may be the better choice.
Can wget or curl download a file from a password-protected website?
Both wget and curl can download a file from a password-protected website. With wget, you can use the --user and --password flags to specify your login credentials:
wget --user=username --password=password https://techcolleague.com/protected/file.zipWith curl, you can use the -u flag to specify your login credentials in the format username:password:
curl -u username:password https://techcolleague.com/protected/file.zipIt’s important to note that these commands will transmit your login credentials in plaintext, which a third party could potentially intercept. If you need to download a file from a password-protected website and want to ensure the security of your login credentials, you may want to consider using a tool like ssh or scp instead.
Can wget or curl be used to download a file from a website that requires a cookie or a user agent?
Yes, both wget and curl can download a file from a website that requires a cookie or a user agent. With wget, you can use the --header flag to specify an HTTP header, such as a cookie or a user agent:
wget --header="Cookie: example=value" --header="User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0" https://techcolleague.com/file.zipWith curl, you can use the -H flag to specify an HTTP header, or the -b flag to specify a cookie:
curl -H "User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0" -b "example=value" https://techcolleague.com/file.zipIt’s important to note that you may need to use multiple --header or -H flags if you need to specify multiple headers or cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wget or curl be used to download a file from a website that requires JavaScript to be enabled?
No, wget and curl are command-line utilities that do not support JavaScript. If you need to download a file from a website that requires JavaScript to be enabled, you will need to use a tool that can execute JavaScript, such as a web browser.
Can wget or curl be used to download a file from a website that uses a CAPTCHA?
No, wget and curl are not capable of solving CAPTCHAs. If you need to download a file from a website that uses a CAPTCHA, you will need to use a tool to solve the CAPTCHA, such as a web browser with a CAPTCHA solver plugin installed.
Does curl use Python?
Although cURL is a popular command-line tool used to transfer data between two locations, it can also be accessed using scripting languages like Python. In fact, PycURL – a module of the Python programming language – allows developers to access server and client transfers via cURL without entering terminal commands.
With PycURL, users can create powerful scripts and applications for any type of project requiring a REST API integration. Plus, with this highly scalable solution, there’s no limit to how complex or ambitious a cURL-Python project can become.
