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curl — URL-based data transfer through a CLI and libcurl

OSS scale score 327.3OSS health 100Update pace 303 commits/30d
About these scores

OSS scale score is an unbounded metric that log-compresses and weights Stars, Watchers, Forks, and Contributors. Discovery score is the current OSS scale score minus the score at discovery. Update pace is commits in the last 30 days, growth momentum is the OSS scale score difference within the recent observation window, and OSS health is a 0–100 rating based on available recency, Community Health, and release data.

Stars
42,893
Primary language
C
License
curl
Repository last updated
Sep 19, 2026

Overview

curl is a command-line tool for transferring data to or from servers using URL syntax. Beyond HTTP and HTTPS it supports FTP/SFTP, SMTP, IMAP, LDAP, MQTT, WebSocket, and many other protocols, while libcurl exposes the same transfer engine for embedding in applications.

Features and best fit

Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:

Use one CLI for HTTP requests and file transfers

Options can compose headers, GET/POST, downloads/uploads, authentication, proxies, and redirects so network requests can be reproduced from scripts and CI.

Sources: [2][4]

Embed the transfer engine through libcurl

Applications can use the C library behind curl to control protocols, TLS, proxies, authentication, and transfer behavior programmatically.

Sources: [2][5]

For API inspection and scripted network transfers

curl fits API checks, release downloads, uploads, health probes, and other URL-based network operations that need to be automated from a shell.

Sources: [2][4]

Protect TLS verification and credentials

-k/--insecure disables TLS certificate verification and should not be a routine production option. Credentials placed directly on command lines can also leak through shell history or process listings.

Sources: [4]

Official sources

  1. [1]curl/curl repository(2026-09-20)
  2. [2]curl README(2026-09-20)
  3. [3]curl license(2026-09-20)
  4. [4]curl documentation(2026-09-20)
  5. [5]libcurl documentation(2026-09-20)
Supplemental curator note

curl handles far more than API calls: one CLI covers many transfer protocols and the same engine is available as libcurl for applications. Avoid casually using `-k/--insecure` with HTTPS because it disables certificate verification.

Try it in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Check the curl build and supported protocols

    Inspect available protocols, TLS backend, and compiled features.

    curl --version
  2. 2

    Inspect HTTP response headers

    Send a HEAD request while keeping normal TLS certificate verification enabled.

    curl --fail-with-body --show-error --silent --head https://curl.se/
  3. 3

    Download a response to a file

    Save the response body to a file to verify the basic command-line transfer workflow.

    curl --fail-with-body --show-error --silent https://curl.se/ -o curl-home.html
Check the official README

Growth

Growth trends · Last 30 days

42,893 Stars

Trend data is still being collected.

Development activity

Last 90 days · weekly

Commits (last 30 days)
303
Open PRs
40
Issues opened
87
Issues closed
87
PRs opened
745
PRs merged
6

Issues

87 / 87

Jun 23Sep 20
Issues openedIssues closed

Pull requests

745 / 6

Jun 23Sep 20
PRs openedPRs merged

Maintenance

Median first response
4.4 hr
Issue response rate
58.8% (47/80)

Based on up to the 100 newest issues opened by external users in the last 90 days. A first comment from an OWNER, MEMBER, or COLLABORATOR counts as a response; issues whose full comment history cannot be checked are excluded. The median and response rate update weekly.

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GitHub data

GitHub dataView detailed GitHub data
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GitHub Topics

  • http
  • https
  • ftp
  • user-agent
  • client
  • library
  • curl
  • libcurl
  • c
  • transfer-data
  • ldap
  • mqtt
Stars
42,893
Forks
7,370
Watchers
775
Open issues
8
Contributors
410
Primary language
C
License
curl
Repository last updated
Sep 19, 2026
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