How do I check an HTTP status code with curl?

Use curl with -I to fetch response headers, or -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" to print only the status code.

How do I follow Redirects with curl?

Add -L to follow Redirects. Add -I when you only need response headers.

How do I send JSON with curl?

Use -X POST, set Content-Type: application/json, and pass the JSON body with --data.

cURL Command Generator for HTTP Status and Headers

Build a cURL command for common status-code, URL Redirect, header, and JSON API checks. The command is generated in your browser.

Generated command

Useful cURL patterns

-I requests response headers without downloading the body.
-L follows Redirects.
-s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' prints only the status code.
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' sends a JSON content type header.
--data sends a request body and implies POST unless a method is set with -X.

Common questions

Can this page check a URL for me?

No. This static page generates commands that you run locally. A live URL checker needs a server-side fetch service.

Why does curl show a different status from my browser?

Servers can vary responses by method, headers, cookies, user agent, IP address, or Redirect handling. Match the method and headers used by the real client.