The abbreviation cURL basically stands for “Client for URLs” or “Curl URL Request Library” as well. It is a command-line program along with the corresponding library for data transfers between computers in a network. The cURL software was developed via the programmer Daniel Stenberg. His original goal was in order to give users of a chat program data on currency exchange rates that was retrieved from various websites. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Install and Use cURL in Windows – Tutorial. Let’s begin!
Just thanks to its MIT free-software license, cURL can be used freely and also has found its way into a lot of operating systems. Also, including Windows 10 which has been through cURL as the 1803 update published in April 2018 actually. “Everything curl” is a highly comprehensive guide and gives information about what this tool can do for developers as well. In the following sections, just you will find some practical examples of what cURL for Windows can also do. You can also try some of them out for yourself right now as well.
Contents
How to Install and Use cURL in Windows – Tutorial
Install cURL
Starting along with Windows 10 v 1803, the OS now ships along with a copy of CURL. It is already set up, and you can start via it right away. Open the command prompt, and type “curl -help“. If there are no errors, and shows all the options of curl, then it’s installed on your Windows 10 as well.
Along with Curl, Microsoft also rolled out Tar, also a command-line tool in order to extract files and create archives. If for some reason you guys do not find CURL installed on your Windows OS, now here is how you can install Curl on Windows.
Install Git for Windows
You have to download Git for Windows, and it will then install CURL along with it. You guys can find it installed under C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin\. Now add it to your Windows path, and then you will be able to execute it from anywhere.
Tap on the start button, and type system path. It will basically show an option in order to edit System Variables. Tap on Environmental Variables, and you will be able to add the path mentioned above into the system path actually.
Download, and Install Curl from the source website
If Git is not something that you want, then you can install CURL from the source website. Just go here, and then download the appropriate one for your system (32 or 64 bit). If you want to download particular packages, then visit the curl packages page. Here you guys can download either the curl executable, libcurl development, libcurl, or the source code as well. Also, make sure to add the executable to your path.
CURL installer
If you guys prefer a 1-click installer, use cURL for Windows. Then you can download it here.
All of these will install CURL on Windows. If you guys are developing something or it’s your application that needs CURL to work on your PC as well, it has you covered as well.
Use cUrl On Windows 10
If you guys want to use cUrl on Windows 10, then you have two options. Just check your Windows 10 build and if you have anything older than 1706, proceed as follows as well.
You will also have to download cUrl from the official website. The Windows version is actually at the bottom of the download page. You guys want to download the generic zipped version. Just extract the zipped file and inside the bin folder, you will also find the curl.exe file. Just open Command Prompt in this folder, and run whatever command it is you want as well.
Because it’s time-consuming to have to cd to the bin folder each and every time you want to use cUrl. It’s a good idea in order to add the path to your Path Environment Variables. This will permit you in order to run cUrl from anywhere.
If your Windows 10 build is 17063, or later, cUrl is included via default. All you guys have to do is run Command Prompt along with administrative rights and you can use cUrl. The Curl.exe is basically located at C:\Windows\System32. If you guys want to be able to use cUrl from anywhere, just consider adding it to Path Environment Variables.
cUrl On Windows 7, 8/8.1
On Windows 7 and 8/8.1, the same process as that for Windows 10 builds older than 17063 will apply as well. You have to download cUrl from an official website linked in the previous section and then run it. In order to make it easier to use, you guys can add it to Path Environment Variables.
Using cUrl
If you have added the cUrl EXE to Path Environment Variables, then you can run a cUrl command from anywhere from Command Prompt. If you guys haven’t added it to Path Environment Variables, you have to first open Command Prompt along with administrative rights (Windows 10, build 1706, and later), and also then run the command.
Now for older Windows 10 builds, and for Windows 7 and 8/8.1. You guys have to the first cd to the folder with the cUrl EXE and then run a command as well.
Microsoft provides users a lot of reasons to upgrade to Windows 10. In addition to adding cUrl by default, and it also includes Tar now. Tar also lets you create archives, and then extract them without even needing additional tools. If that isn’t reason enough in order to upgrade. There’s also the fact that Office 2019 will only run on a Windows 10 PC as well.
Conclusion
Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.
Have a Great Day!
