Throughout our posts, we have downloaded many files via the terminal but have never made an envelope post. So in this post, we’ll tell you all the details about Terminal Tools for Downloading Files.
When referring to downloading files, the first thing we can think of is the web browser. This is true up to a point. Because in the terminal we also have many options for downloading.
The Linux Terminal is a powerful tool so much so that it is the main working support for many servers. Therefore, the terminal is fast, secure, and efficient.
So, let’s talk about those tools.
Terminal Tools for Downloading Files
Several tools allow a download without major problems, but we will name the most familiar and easy to use.
1.- The great wget
GNU wget is a CLI (command-line interface) utility that allows you to download files from the internet if you know its link. It is very efficient in the management of computer resources because it is practically unnoticeable its use. In addition, this allows you to rename the downloaded files quickly.
On the other hand, although it is a program that is used in the terminal, it is quite complete. Here is a list of the main features of the application:
- Wget supports downloads through proxies
- IPv6 is fully supported by wget.
- It allows limiting the bandwidth used for downloads.
- Wget works with SSL/TSL to secure downloads.
But Wget has many configurations and work options. So many that we made a post about it:
There you can learn even more about Wget and above all how to use it.
2.- cURL
Another veteran of our site is cURL.
CURL is a command line tool and library for transferring data with URLs. Many download scripts or file transfers use CURL as a means to achieve this. In addition, CURL supports FTP, FTPS, Gopher, HTTP, HTTPS, IMAP, IMAPS, LDAP and many other protocols quite popular on networks.
On the other hand, the use of CURL is not limited exclusively to computers but to other devices that use UNIX such as cell phones, cars and is the transfer backend of many of the most popular applications in the world.
Say that cURL is even more advanced than Wget but you also have other additional features.
So, if you want to learn more about it, check our post:
How to use CURL command on Linux?
3.- Terminal Tools for Downloading Files used on Scripts
It is also possible to find other tools that are in the main repositories of most Linux distributions. We are talking about tools like rsync or scp.
Rsync, remote synchronize is known as a remote synchronization function of the software, it synchronizes files at the same time, can maintain the original file permissions, time, hard and soft links and other additional information. it is a “sync algorithm” that provides a quick way to synchronize files between clients and remote file servers, and can also be transferred via SSH, which is also very confidential, supports breakpoint continuation, data can be pushed or pulled, and is free of chargeS.
Rsync advantages：
- Ability to update entire directories and trees and file systems;
- Selectively maintain symbolic links, hard links, file ownership, permissions, devices, and time for folders and files;
- For installation, there are no special permission requirements;
- For multiple files, the internal pipeline reduces the file wait delay;
- Can use RSH, SSH or direct port as the transfer port;
- Support anonymous Rsync synchronization files are the ideal mirror tool;
You can read:
Synchronous data Using rsync Command in Linux
Although it is true that with Rsync we do not make a download itself, it can help us to copy and synchronize files from a server. What in practice can be considered a download.
On the other hand, scp is a variation of the cp command that allows you to copy files over a network. As with Rsync it is not a download but in practice it allows us to do it. Especially when we have access to certain files from a given server.
Conclusion
The terminal is a marvel in Linux and so much so that you can download files from the internet or a network using commands. This is useful on servers or computers with ssh connections.
