How to install cURL on Ubuntu

cURL is a versatile command-line tool supporting protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP, commonly used for data transfer, API testing, and automating web requests in Ubuntu environments.

On many Ubuntu systems, cURL may be preinstalled, but if absent, it can be installed quickly using apt. Alternatively, a snap package provides a maintained, containerized version, ensuring compatibility and stability.

Once installed, cURL enhances workflows by retrieving content, debugging servers, and interacting with APIs, making it indispensable for developers and system administrators.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Update the package list with apt.

   $ sudo apt update

3. Install cURL from the official repositories.

   $ sudo apt install --assume-yes curl

   If the installation fails, consider using snap as an alternative source.

4. Verify the cURL installation.

   $ curl --version
   curl 7.81.0 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) ...

   The output displays the installed version and supported features.

5. Optionally, install cURL using snap.

   $ sudo snap install curl

   snap provides another way to obtain cURL on systems that support snaps.

6. Start using cURL to fetch data or test services.

   $ curl "https://example.com"

   cURL is now ready for use in command-line workflows.