Flag guide

What does `curl -X` mean?

-X (long form: --request) sets the HTTP method. Without it, curl defaults to GET. With -d data, it defaults to POST.

GETRead a resource. Default when no -X or -d is given.

curl https://api.example.com/users/1

POSTCreate a resource or submit data.

curl -X POST https://api.example.com/users -d '{"name":"Alex"}'

PUTReplace a resource entirely.

curl -X PUT https://api.example.com/users/1 -d '{"name":"Alex"}'

PATCHUpdate part of a resource.

curl -X PATCH https://api.example.com/users/1 -d '{"name":"Alex"}'

DELETEDelete a resource.

curl -X DELETE https://api.example.com/users/1

Paste any curl into curlwtf.com for a full breakdown of every flag including -X.

What does curl -X mean?