Curl to PHP Converter

The Curl to PHP Converter is a free online tool that converts cURL (Client URL) commands into PHP code. This tool is essential for developers who need to translate command-line cURL requests into PHP code for integration into web applications, APIs, or server-side scripts. Whether you're working with REST APIs, web scraping, or HTTP requests, this converter saves time and reduces errors.

What is cURL?

cURL (Client URL) is a command-line tool and library for transferring data with URLs. It's widely used for making HTTP requests, testing APIs, and interacting with web services. cURL supports various protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more, making it a versatile tool for developers.

However, when you need to implement the same HTTP request in a PHP application, manually converting cURL commands to PHP code can be time-consuming and error-prone. This is where the Curl to PHP Converter comes in handy.

How Does It Work?

The tool parses your cURL command and extracts:

• URL: The target endpoint for the request
• HTTP Method: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, etc.
• Headers: Custom headers like Authorization, Content-Type, etc.
• Request Body: Data to send with POST/PUT requests
• Options: SSL verification, redirect following, compression, etc.

It then generates clean, ready-to-use PHP code using either native PHP cURL functions or the Guzzle HTTP client library.

How to Use the Curl to PHP Converter

1. Copy Your cURL Command: Get your cURL command from the browser's developer tools, API documentation, or command line
2. Paste into Tool: Paste the cURL command into the input field
3. Select PHP Library: Choose between native PHP cURL or Guzzle HTTP
4. Choose Indent Size: Select your preferred code indentation (2, 4, or 8 spaces)
5. Auto Conversion: The PHP code is generated automatically as you type
6. Copy Code: Copy the generated PHP code to your clipboard
7. Use in Project: Paste the code into your PHP application

Key Features

• Multiple HTTP Methods: Supports GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, and more
• Header Parsing: Automatically extracts and converts custom headers
• Request Body Support: Handles JSON, form data, and raw request bodies
• Two PHP Libraries: Generate code for native PHP cURL or Guzzle HTTP
• SSL Options: Handles SSL verification settings
• Redirect Following: Supports redirect following options
• Real-time Conversion: Instant conversion as you type
• Clean Code Output: Well-formatted, readable PHP code
• Error Handling: Includes basic error handling in generated code
• Customizable Indentation: Choose your preferred code style

Supported cURL Options

The converter supports the following cURL command options:

• -X, --request: HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)
• -H, --header: Custom HTTP headers
• -d, --data: Request body data
• -k, --insecure: Disable SSL certificate verification
• -L, --location: Follow HTTP redirects
• --compressed: Request compressed response
• URL: Target URL for the request

PHP Library Options

Native PHP cURL

Generates code using PHP's built-in cURL functions:

• Uses curl_init(), curl_setopt(), curl_exec()
• No external dependencies required
• Standard PHP installation includes cURL support
• Full control over cURL options

Guzzle HTTP

Generates code using the Guzzle HTTP client library:

• Modern, object-oriented HTTP client
• Requires Guzzle installation via Composer
• Cleaner, more readable code
• Better error handling and response handling
• Widely used in Laravel and other PHP frameworks

Example Conversions

Example 1: Simple GET Request

cURL Command:

curl https://api.example.com/users

Generated PHP (cURL):

<?php

$ch = curl_init();

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.example.com/users');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$error = curl_error($ch);
curl_close($ch);

if ($error) {
    echo "Error: " . $error;
} else {
    echo $response;
}

Example 2: POST Request with Headers and JSON Data

cURL Command:

curl -X POST https://api.example.com/users \\
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer token123" \\
  -d '{"name":"John","email":"john@example.com"}'

Generated PHP (cURL):

<?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 token123'
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, '{"name":"John","email":"john@example.com"}');

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$error = curl_error($ch);
curl_close($ch);

if ($error) {
    echo "Error: " . $error;
} else {
    echo $response;
}

Use Cases

• API Integration: Convert API documentation examples to PHP code
• Web Scraping: Convert browser network requests to PHP scrapers
• Testing: Quickly convert test cURL commands to PHP test code
• Migration: Convert existing cURL scripts to PHP applications
• Learning: Understand how cURL commands translate to PHP code
• Development: Speed up development by avoiding manual conversion
• Documentation: Generate PHP code examples from cURL commands

Best Practices

• Review Generated Code: Always review the generated code before using it in production
• Error Handling: Enhance the error handling based on your application's needs
• Security: Be careful with SSL verification settings - only disable in development
• Environment Variables: Replace hardcoded URLs and tokens with environment variables
• Validation: Add input validation for request data
• Logging: Add logging for debugging and monitoring
• Timeouts: Consider adding timeout settings for long-running requests

Limitations

Tips for Best Results

• Clean Commands: Ensure your cURL command is properly formatted
• Complete Commands: Include all necessary headers and options
• Test First: Test your cURL command in the terminal first to ensure it works
• Verify Output: Test the generated PHP code in your development environment
• Customize: Adjust the generated code to fit your application's architecture

Getting cURL Commands

You can get cURL commands from various sources:

• Browser Developer Tools: Copy as cURL from Network tab
• API Documentation: Many APIs provide cURL examples
• Postman: Export requests as cURL commands
• Command Line: Write cURL commands manually for testing
• Insomnia: Copy requests as cURL commands