Free course

curl Course

Use curl to inspect, reproduce, debug, and automate HTTP and API transfers with clear security and reliability boundaries.

5 modules · 25 lessons · No signup

Prerequisites: Shell Commands and HTTP

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What you'll learn

Build precise requests, inspect every transfer stage, handle authentication and TLS safely, and turn a request into a reliable smoke test.

Course contents

  1. Request basics

    Install curl, make requests, inspect the exchange, and save response data.

    1. ✓ Inspect your curl installation
    2. ✓ Make a GET request
    3. ✓ Inspect a request with verbose output
    4. ✓ Save and name response files
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: request basics

  2. Send request data

    Build query strings, headers, JSON bodies, forms, uploads, and deliberate methods.

    1. ✓ Build a query string safely
    2. ✓ Send JSON
    3. ✓ Submit forms and files
    4. ✓ Choose a method deliberately
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: send request data

  3. State and authentication

    Send credentials, bearer tokens, cookies, redirects, and sensitive data with clear boundaries.

    1. ✓ Use Basic authentication
    2. ✓ Send a bearer token
    3. ✓ Store and reuse cookies
    4. ✓ Follow redirects with boundaries
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: state and authentication

  4. TLS and network control

    Verify servers, override name resolution, use proxies, and bound slow or unreliable transfers.

    1. ✓ Keep TLS verification enabled
    2. ✓ Override resolution with --resolve
    3. ✓ Send requests through a proxy
    4. ✓ Set timeouts and safe retries
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: tls and network control

  5. Debug and automate

    Measure transfers, capture traces, use configuration files, and build a repeatable API smoke test.

    1. ✓ Measure a transfer
    2. ✓ Capture a curl trace
    3. ✓ Write a curl config file
    4. ✓ Build an API smoke test
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: debug and automate