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Wget

wget is a command-line utility used for downloading files from the internet. It supports various protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and FTPS. wget is commonly used to retrieve files and web content from the command line in Unix-like operating systems.

Basic Syntax​

wget [options] [URL]

Common Options​

  • -O or --output-document: Specify the output file name.
  • -P or --directory-prefix: Specify the directory to save the downloaded file.
  • -r or --recursive: Download recursively (follow links).
  • -N or --timestamping: Download only newer files.
  • -c or --continue: Resume a partially downloaded file.
  • -q or --quiet: Quiet mode (suppress output).
  • -U or --user-agent: Set the user agent string.
  • -h or --help: Display help information.

Examples​

  1. Downloading a File:

    wget https://www.example.com/file.txt

    This downloads file.txt from example.com.

  2. Downloading with Custom Output Name:

    wget -O output.txt https://www.example.com/file.txt

    This downloads file.txt from example.com and saves it as output.txt.

  3. Downloading to a Specific Directory:

    wget -P /path/to/directory https://www.example.com/file.txt

    This downloads file.txt to the specified directory.

  4. Recursively Downloading a Website:

    wget -r https://www.example.com

    This downloads the entire example.com website and its linked content.

  5. Resuming a Partial Download:

    wget -c https://www.example.com/largefile.zip

    This resumes downloading largefile.zip if it was interrupted or partially downloaded.

  6. Downloading Only Newer Files:

    wget -N https://www.example.com/updates.tar.gz

    This downloads updates.tar.gz only if it's newer than the existing local copy.

Advanced Usage​

  • wget supports advanced features like downloading through proxy servers, setting bandwidth limits, and using cookies.

Use Cases​

  • Downloading files from the internet.
  • Mirroring websites for offline viewing.
  • Batch downloading multiple files.
  • Automated downloading as part of scripts.

Conclusion​

wget is a reliable tool for downloading files and web content from the command line. Its simplicity and range of features make it a preferred choice for tasks that involve fetching resources over the internet.


✅ Resources​