Web surfing in a Linux terminal

cURL

The cURL (Client for URL) utility was originally created to automate file transfers. However, Curl has since expanded its capabilities, and it can now be used for a wide range of purposes beyond simple file transfers. For example, it can be used to test APIs, debug network connections, and even send emails. Despite its expanded functionality, Curl remains a powerful tool for file transfers as well.

Use this syntax to download single file:

curl [URL] --output [FILENAME]

Don’t forget to specify a protocol in [URL]:

curl https://example.com/example.file --output example.com

This command save file from https://example.com/example.file to current directory with name example.com.

wget

GNU Wget is a simple non-interactive utility that can be used to download files. It supports HTTP, HTTPS and FTP protocols. The syntax also simple:

wget -O [FILENAME] [URL]

Note that when using the -O option, it is a capital letter O, not the numeric digit 0.

wget -O example.com https://example.com/example.file

Suppose you need to download a large file, but you also need to work on the terminal. In that case, you can use the wget command's background download option (-b). This option allows the download to continue in the background, enabling you to continue working in the terminal. Additionally, wget creates a log file named wget-log, which tracks the output:

wget -b -O example.com https://example.com/example.file

links2

The console browser provides users with text-only content, free from ads and other extraneous images. The primary advantage of using a console browser is the ability to access it directly from a shell, without the need for a GUI. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have a dedicated remote server and need to visit websites to download files. Additionally, console browsers enable users to read news, digests, or other text-based media.

Typically, links2 is not bundled with the operating system and must be manually installed. On Ubuntu systems, this can be accomplished with a single command:

sudo apt -y install links2

After that, you can open it:

links2

And call the main menu with the Esc key:

Select Go to URL, enter URL and press Enter key:

To navigate the page, use the arrow keys and press Enter to select an item. To download a file from a link, select the link and press the D key. By default, the file will be downloaded to the same directory where the links2 program was launched.