curl Command Examples in Linux¶

Introduction¶

These examples show practical ways to use curl on a Linux terminal. Each example is written so you can adapt it for administration or troubleshooting.

Example 1: Basic Usage¶

curl https://example.com

This is the simplest form of the command and is a good starting point before adding options.

Example 2: Common Admin Task¶

curl -I https://example.com

This example reflects a common task on RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or similar systems.

Example 3: Useful Option¶

curl -o index.html https://example.com

This option helps narrow the result, change behavior, or handle a more realistic target.

Example 4: Real-World Scenario¶

curl -H "Accept: application/json" https://api.example.com/status

Use this pattern when the task moves beyond a single basic command.

Example 5: Verification¶

curl --version

Example output:

HTTP/2 200
content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8

Common Mistakes¶

• Forgetting -L when the URL redirects.
• Putting API tokens directly in shell history.
• Confusing response headers with response body output.

Quick Reference¶

curl https://example.com
curl -I https://example.com
curl -o index.html https://example.com
curl -H "Accept: application/json" https://api.example.com/status
curl --version

Related Guides¶

• What is curl?
• curl HTTP headers explained
• curl POST Request Examples
• curl interview questions

Summary¶

Good curl usage means choosing the right option, keeping the target clear, and verifying the result with output you can explain.