How to Convert cURL Commands to Python, JavaScript, PHP and More

What is cURL?

cURL is a command-line tool for transferring data with URLs — effectively the universal language of HTTP APIs. Nearly every API documentation page shows examples as curl commands, and tools like Postman include "Copy as cURL" buttons for exactly this reason.

A typical curl command looks like this:

curl -X POST https://api.example.com/users \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGc..." \
  -d '{"name": "John", "email": "john@example.com"}'

Let's break this down before converting it.

cURL Flags — What They Mean

Understanding curl flags makes conversion to code straightforward:

Convert cURL to Python (requests)

Python's requests library is the most popular HTTP client in the ecosystem. Install it with pip install requests.

import requests

headers = {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': 'Bearer eyJhbGc...',
}

json_data = {
    'name': 'John',
    'email': 'john@example.com',
}

response = requests.post(
    'https://api.example.com/users',
    headers=headers,
    json=json_data,
)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

Key points:

• -X POST → requests.post()
• -H "Content-Type: application/json" → in the headers dict
• -d '{"json"}' → json= parameter (requests handles serialization automatically)
• For basic auth: requests.get(url, auth=('user', 'pass'))
• For form data: use data= instead of json=

Convert cURL to JavaScript (fetch)

The browser-native fetch API works in both browsers and Node.js 18+:

const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/users', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': 'Bearer eyJhbGc...',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: 'John',
    email: 'john@example.com',
  }),
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

Key differences from Python:

• The body must be manually JSON.stringify()-ed
• fetch doesn't throw on 4xx/5xx responses — check response.ok
• Use await response.json() to parse the response

Convert cURL to JavaScript (axios)

Axios is the most popular HTTP library for Node.js and browser apps:

import axios from 'axios';

const response = await axios.post(
  'https://api.example.com/users',
  {
    name: 'John',
    email: 'john@example.com',
  },
  {
    headers: {
      'Authorization': 'Bearer eyJhbGc...',
    },
  }
);

console.log(response.data);

Why axios over fetch:

• Automatic JSON serialization — no JSON.stringify() needed
• Throws errors on 4xx/5xx status codes
• Request and response interceptors
• Works in older Node.js without polyfills

Convert cURL to PHP

PHP has built-in cURL support through the curl_* functions:

<?php

$ch = curl_init();

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.example.com/users');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'POST');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'Content-Type: application/json',
    'Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGc...',
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, '{"name":"John","email":"john@example.com"}');

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$httpCode = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);

$data = json_decode($response, true);
echo $data['name'];
?>

Convert cURL to Go

Go's standard library includes a powerful HTTP client with no extra dependencies:

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "io"
    "net/http"
    "strings"
)

func main() {
    body := strings.NewReader(`{"name":"John","email":"john@example.com"}`)

    req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.example.com/users", body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
    req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer eyJhbGc...")

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    bodyBytes, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    fmt.Println(string(bodyBytes))
}

Convert cURL to Java

Java 11+ includes a built-in HttpClient — no external libraries needed:

import java.net.http.*;
import java.net.URI;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        var client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();

        var body = "{\"name\":\"John\",\"email\":\"john@example.com\"}";

        var request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
            .uri(URI.create("https://api.example.com/users"))
            .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
            .header("Authorization", "Bearer eyJhbGc...")
            .POST(HttpRequest.BodyPublishers.ofString(body))
            .build();

        var response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString());
        System.out.println(response.statusCode());
        System.out.println(response.body());
    }
}

How Postman Exports cURL Commands

If you're working in Postman, getting the curl command is simple:

1. Open any request in Postman
2. Click the Code button — the </> icon in the right sidebar
3. Select cURL from the language dropdown
4. Copy the generated command

This makes it easy to share requests with teammates, run them in CI/CD pipelines, or — most importantly — convert them to application code using a converter tool.

The Fastest Way — ToolNinja cURL Converter

Converting curl commands manually works for simple requests, but complex commands with multiple headers, authentication, cookies, nested JSON bodies and query parameters can take 10–15 minutes to translate correctly.

ToolNinja's free cURL to Code Converter handles it instantly:

1. Paste any curl command (multi-line format fully supported)
2. Select Python, JavaScript, PHP, Go, Java, C#, Ruby or Node.js
3. Get clean, ready-to-run code with copy and download buttons

🔧 cURL to Code Converter — toolninja.io/tools/curl-to-code

No login. No server. Your API keys and tokens never leave your browser.