You can get XML with cURL by sending a GET request with the -H "Accept: application/xml" option. Here is a sample command that sends a GET request to our hosted version of HTTPBin and returns the response in JSON format:
curl https://httpbin.scrapingbee.com/xml \
-H "Accept: application/xml"
It is quite simple because GET is the default request method used by cURL.
What is cURL?
cURL is an open-source command-line tool used to transfer data to and from a server. It is extremely versatile and supports various protocols including HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and many others. It is generally used to test and interact with APIs, download files, and perform various other tasks involving network communication.
What is an GET request?
An HTTP GET request is like asking a librarian to fetch a specific book for you. In the digital realm, it's when your web browser (or another client) reaches out to a server and says, "Hey, I'm looking for this particular piece of information, can you please send it my way?" The server then either sends the requested data (like a webpage or an image) or lets you know if it couldn't find what you're looking for.
What is XML?
XML is a markup language much like HTML. The main difference between the two is that XML was designed to transport and store data, rather than to display data. XML was designed to be both human- and machine-readable. It is a W3C Recommendation.
What is an HTTP header?
HTTP headers are small pieces of information passed alongside the body giving additional information and more context about the request to the server.