How to install cURL on Ubuntu

cURL is a tool for transferring data using URLs from the command line. It supports protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP, making it useful for web development and server management.

On many Linux systems, including Ubuntu, cURL isn't installed by default, except on Ubuntu Server, where it's commonly used for system administration and advanced tasks. Regular desktop users typically don't need cURL pre-installed.

Installing cURL is straightforward as it's available in default software repositories. Ubuntu users can install it using either the snap or apt package management systems, based on their preference.

1. Launch terminal.
2. Update apt package list.

   $ sudo apt update
   [sudo] password for user:
   Hit:1 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy-security InRelease
   Hit:2 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy-proposed InRelease    
   Hit:3 http://us.ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy InRelease          
   Hit:4 http://us.ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy-updates InRelease
   Hit:5 http://us.ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy-backports InRelease
   Reading package lists... Done
   Building dependency tree... Done
   Reading state information... Done
   All packages are up to date.

3. Install curl package using apt.

   $ sudo apt install --assume-yes curl
   Reading package lists... Done
   Building dependency tree... Done
   Reading state information... Done
   The following NEW packages will be installed:
     curl
   0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
   Need to get 190 kB of archives.
   After this operation, 436 kB of additional disk space will be used.
   Get:1 http://us.ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports jammy-updates/main arm64 curl arm64 7.81.0-1ubuntu1.4 [190 kB]
   Fetched 190 kB in 2s (84.5 kB/s)
   Selecting previously unselected package curl.
   (Reading database ... 206724 files and directories currently installed.)
   Preparing to unpack .../curl_7.81.0-1ubuntu1.4_arm64.deb ...
   Unpacking curl (7.81.0-1ubuntu1.4) ...
   Setting up curl (7.81.0-1ubuntu1.4) ...
   Processing triggers for man-db (2.10.2-1) ...

   Install using snap if that's your preference.

   $ sudo snap install curl
   curl 7.84.0 from Wouter van Bommel (woutervb) installed

4. Start using curl form the terminal.

   $ curl --help
   Usage: curl [options...] <url>
    -d, --data <data>          HTTP POST data
    -f, --fail                 Fail silently (no output at all) on HTTP errors
    -h, --help <category>      Get help for commands
    -i, --include              Include protocol response headers in the output
    -o, --output <file>        Write to file instead of stdout
    -O, --remote-name          Write output to a file named as the remote file
    -s, --silent               Silent mode
    -T, --upload-file <file>   Transfer local FILE to destination
    -u, --user <user:password> Server user and password
    -A, --user-agent <name>    Send User-Agent <name> to server
    -v, --verbose              Make the operation more talkative
    -V, --version              Show version number and quit
   
   This is not the full help, this menu is stripped into categories.
   Use "--help category" to get an overview of all categories.
   For all options use the manual or "--help all".

   Related: Guide listing for curl