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Asked: 2024-09-24T13:01:55+05:30 In:

How can I download a file from a website using the terminal on Ubuntu?

I’ve been working on a project that requires me to download several files from a website, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to do it using the terminal on my Ubuntu machine. I usually handle stuff through the GUI, but for this task, it feels like using the terminal would be a lot quicker and more efficient.

So, I’m kind of stumped on how to get started. I’ve heard that you can use commands like `wget` or `curl`, but I’m not quite sure how to use them effectively. I want to make sure I’m doing this right, especially since some of the files I need are somewhat hidden behind links that aren’t directly displayed on the page.

Could someone walk me through the steps? Like, do I just copy the URL of the file I want? And then what? I’ve read snippets about how you have to make sure to handle certain file types appropriately, like if it’s a zip or a tar file, but I honestly don’t know what that means in terms of commands.

Also, it would be great to know if there’s a way to download multiple files at once. I remember reading something about using a list of URLs, but again, I’m not confident on how to put that into practice. And what happens if the download fails halfway through? Is there a way to resume it, or will I have to start over?

Any tips on navigating through directories in the terminal would also be super helpful since I’m used to graphical folder browsing, and the idea of using `cd` genuinely freaks me out a bit!

If anyone has a beginner-friendly guide or can break down the steps into something manageable, that would be awesome. I’m really eager to learn and get this download process sorted out since it would save me so much time in the long run. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers



    1. Downloading Files Using Terminal on Ubuntu


      Guide to Downloading Files with Terminal on Ubuntu

      If you’ve decided to download files using the terminal, you’ll find it can be quite efficient! Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started.

      Using wget

      • First, open your terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
      • To download a single file, use the wget command followed by the URL of the file. For example:

        wget http://example.com/file.zip
      • If the file is a compressed file (like zip or tar), once downloaded, you can extract it using:

        unzip file.zip  # For zip files
        tar -xvf file.tar  # For tar files
      • To download multiple files at once, you can create a text file with all the URLs (one per line) and use:

        wget -i urls.txt
      • If a download fails, you can resume it by using:

        wget -c http://example.com/file.zip

      Using curl

      • curl also works for downloading files. The command looks similar:

        curl -O http://example.com/file.zip
      • To download multiple files, you can loop through URLs in a bash script, or use it within a text file similar to wget.

      Navigating Directories

      • To change directories, use the cd command followed by the folder name. For example, to go to your Downloads folder:

        cd Downloads
      • To go back to the previous directory, use:

        cd ..
      • You can list files in the current directory with:

        ls

      Final Notes

      Take your time to learn these commands, and don’t hesitate to experiment! The terminal might seem daunting, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.



    2. To get started with downloading files using the terminal on your Ubuntu machine, you can utilize commands such as `wget` and `curl`. Both commands allow you to download files from the web, but `wget` is particularly handy for downloading multiple files at once and can handle recursive downloads. To use `wget`, you simply copy the URL of the file you want to download and run the command in your terminal like this: wget http://example.com/file.zip. If you need to download multiple files, you can create a text file (let’s call it urls.txt) that contains all the URLs, one per line, and then run: wget -i urls.txt to download all the files listed in that text file. Additionally, if you want to resume a download if it gets interrupted, you can use the -c option: wget -c http://example.com/file.zip.

      While navigating directories in the terminal might feel intimidating at first, it becomes easier with practice. You can change directories using the cd command followed by the directory name. For example, cd Documents will take you to the Documents folder. To go back one directory, you can use cd ... To view the contents of the current directory, use the ls command. If you’re downloading specific file types like `.zip` or `.tar`, `wget` will simply download them as they are, and you may need to install utilities like `unzip` or `tar` to extract them after downloading. If you encounter any issues while using these commands, the terminal usually provides error messages that can help you troubleshoot. With a bit of practice, you’ll find that using the terminal for downloading files is both efficient and empowering.


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