cURL to Code Converter — Convert cURL Commands to Code

Convert cURL to Code

Paste a cURL command below to convert it to Python, JavaScript, Go, PHP, or Ruby code. The converter parses headers, request body, authentication, and other options automatically.

Common cURL Flags Reference

This table lists the most commonly used cURL flags and how they are converted:

Examples

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

curl -X POST https://api.example.com/users \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"name":"Alice","email":"[email protected]"}'

curl -X GET https://api.example.com/protected \
  -u 'username:password'

curl https://api.example.com/data \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer token123' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -H 'User-Agent: MyApp/1.0'

How This Tool Works

The cURL to code converter parses your cURL command and extracts key components:

1. URL extraction: The tool identifies the target URL, handling both quoted and unquoted formats.
2. Method detection: Parses the -X flag to determine GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, or other methods. Defaults to GET if not specified.
3. Header parsing: Extracts all -H flags and builds a header dictionary. Common headers like Content-Type and Authorization are preserved exactly.
4. Body handling: Recognizes -d, --data, --data-raw, and --data-urlencode flags. Concatenates multiple data flags if present.
5. Authentication: Converts -u (basic auth) to the appropriate header or language-specific auth mechanism.
6. Cookie support: Parses -b flags and adds cookies to headers or request options.
7. Code generation: Outputs idiomatic code for each language, using standard libraries and best practices.

The parser handles multiline commands (backslash continuations), quoted strings (single and double quotes), and common edge cases. Unsupported flags are ignored, and the tool displays an error if the command cannot be parsed.

When to Use Each Language

• Python (requests): Best for scripting, automation, data science, and backend services. The requests library is simple and feature-rich.
• JavaScript (fetch): Built into browsers and Node.js 18+. Use for frontend code, serverless functions, and simple Node.js apps. No dependencies required.
• JavaScript (axios): Third-party library with more features than fetch (automatic JSON parsing, interceptors, timeout). Use for complex frontend or Node.js apps.
• Go (net/http): Standard library for Go services. Use for microservices, CLI tools, and high-performance backends. Verbose but explicit.
• PHP (cURL): Standard for PHP applications. Use for WordPress plugins, Laravel apps, and legacy PHP systems.
• Ruby (Net::HTTP): Standard library for Ruby. Use for Rails apps, scripts, and automation. Alternative libraries like HTTParty are also popular.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cURL and why would I convert it to code?

cURL is a command-line tool for making HTTP requests. Browser DevTools and API documentation often provide cURL examples. Converting cURL commands to code lets you reproduce API calls in your programming language of choice. This is useful for testing APIs, debugging requests, and translating documentation examples into production code.

Which programming languages does this tool support?

This converter generates code for Python (requests library), JavaScript (fetch API and axios library), Go (net/http package), PHP (cURL extension), and Ruby (Net::HTTP library). All outputs are production-ready with proper error handling where applicable.

Does this tool support all cURL flags?

The converter supports the most common flags: -X (method), -H (headers), -d/--data/--data-raw (body), -u (basic auth), -b (cookies), --compressed, and -k (insecure). Rare flags like --limit-rate, --proxy, or --cert are not supported. If you need advanced features, consult the library documentation for your language.

How do I handle multiline cURL commands?

Copy the entire command including backslashes. The parser handles line continuations (backslash-newline) automatically. Both Unix (backslash) and Windows (caret ^) continuation styles are supported. Remove any shell-specific syntax before pasting.

Is it safe to paste cURL commands with API keys?

Yes. This tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your cURL command is never sent to any server. However, avoid sharing the generated code publicly if it contains API keys, tokens, or credentials. Treat generated code like you would treat the original cURL command.

Can I convert Postman or browser network requests to cURL first?

Yes. Most browsers let you copy network requests as cURL (right-click a request in DevTools Network tab, choose "Copy as cURL" or "Copy as cURL (bash)"). Postman has a Code button that exports requests as cURL. Paste the result into this tool to convert to code.

Why does my cURL command fail to parse?

Common issues: missing quotes around URLs with special characters, unmatched quotes in header values, unsupported shell syntax (pipes, redirects), or very complex quoting. Try simplifying the command or pasting directly from browser DevTools or Postman exports, which generate clean cURL syntax.

What is the difference between fetch and axios in JavaScript?

fetch is a built-in browser API (also available in Node.js 18+) with a Promise-based interface. It requires manual JSON parsing (response.json()). axios is a third-party library with more features: automatic JSON parsing, request/response interceptors, timeout support, and better error handling. Use fetch for simple requests; use axios for complex apps.

Does this tool verify that the generated code is correct?

The generated code follows best practices for each language and library. However, edge cases (unusual headers, complex body encoding) may require manual adjustment. Always test the generated code before using it in production. If you encounter issues, file an issue or contact support.

Related Tools

• JSON Formatter — format and validate JSON request bodies
• JSON Validator — check JSON syntax before sending
• JWT Decoder — decode and inspect JWT tokens from Authorization headers
• HTTP Status Codes — reference for response status codes
• URL Parser — parse and analyze URLs from cURL commands
• Base64 Encoder/Decoder — encode/decode Basic Auth credentials

cURL to Code Converter FAQ