CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3) Library Functions Manual CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3)
NAME
CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST - custom request method
SYNOPSIS
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, char *method);
DESCRIPTION
Pass a pointer to a null-terminated string as parameter.
When changing the request method by setting CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3),
you do not actually change how libcurl behaves or acts: you only change
the actual string sent in the request.
libcurl passes on the verbatim string in its request without any filter
or other safe guards. That includes white space and control characters.
The application does not have to keep the string around after setting
this option.
Using this option multiple times makes the last set string override the
previous ones. Restore to the internal default by setting this to NULL.
This option can be used to specify the request:
HTTP Instead of GET or HEAD when performing HTTP based requests. This
is particularly useful, for example, for performing an HTTP
DELETE request.
For example:
When you tell libcurl to do a HEAD request, but then specify a
GET though a custom request libcurl still acts as if it sent a
HEAD. To switch to a proper HEAD use CURLOPT_NOBODY(3), to switch
to a proper POST use CURLOPT_POST(3) or CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS(3) and
to switch to a proper GET use CURLOPT_HTTPGET(3).
Many people have wrongly used this option to replace the entire
request with their own, including multiple headers and POST con-
tents. While that might work in many cases, it might cause
libcurl to send invalid requests and it could possibly confuse
the remote server badly. Use CURLOPT_POST(3) and CURLOPT_POST-
FIELDS(3) to set POST data. Use CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3) to replace
or extend the set of headers sent by libcurl. Use CUR-
LOPT_HTTP_VERSION(3) to change the HTTP version.
When this option is used together with CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION(3),
the custom set method overrides the method libcurl could other-
wise change to for the subsequent requests. You can fine-tune
that decision by using the CURLFOLLOW_OBEYCODE bit to CUR-
LOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION(3) to make redirects adhere to the redirect
response code as the protocol instructs.
FTP Instead of LIST and NLST when performing FTP directory listings.
IMAP Instead of LIST when issuing IMAP based requests.
POP3 Instead of LIST and RETR when issuing POP3 based requests.
For example:
When you tell libcurl to use a custom request it behaves like a
LIST or RETR command was sent where it expects data to be re-
turned by the server. As such CURLOPT_NOBODY(3) should be used
when specifying commands such as DELE and NOOP for example.
SMTP Instead of a HELP or VRFY when issuing SMTP based requests.
For example:
Normally a multi line response is returned which can be used, in
conjunction with CURLOPT_MAIL_RCPT(3), to specify an EXPN re-
quest. If the CURLOPT_NOBODY(3) option is specified then the re-
quest can be used to issue NOOP and RSET commands.
DEFAULT
NULL
PROTOCOLS
This functionality affects ftp, http, imap, pop3 and smtp
EXAMPLE
int main(void)
{
CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
if(curl) {
CURLcode res;
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/foo.bin");
/* DELETE the given path */
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, "DELETE");
res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
}
}
AVAILABILITY
Added in curl 7.1
RETURN VALUE
curl_easy_setopt(3) returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.
CURLE_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred,
see libcurl-errors(3).
SEE ALSO
CURLINFO_EFFECTIVE_METHOD(3), CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3), CURLOPT_NOBODY(3),
CURLOPT_REQUEST_TARGET(3)
libcurl 2026-07-12 CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3)
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