Authorization in cURL

In this article, we'll explore three common authorization methods in cURL: username/password, auth token, and pass cookie. Whether we're working on a project or troubleshooting an issue, understanding these techniques will help us navigate the world of cURL with confidence.

Username/Password

One of the most straightforward ways to authorize our requests is by using a username and password combination. Here's how it works:

openvpn_access_server_ip='https://178.10.10.10'
url=${openvpn_access_server_ip}/rest/GetUserlogin
vpn_admin_username='your-openvpn-username'
vpn_admin_password='your-openvpn-password'
dir=$(pwd)

curl -s -k -X GET -u ${vpn_admin_username}:${vpn_admin_password} ${url} > ${dir}/OpenVPNServer.ovpn

In this example, we're using the -u option to specify our username and password. The -k flag skips TLS verification, which can be useful when working with self-signed certificates.

Auth Token

Another common authorization method is by using an auth token. This technique is often employed in APIs that require authentication before allowing access to certain endpoints. Here's how it works:

terraform_api='https://app.terraform.io/api/v2'
organization_name='your-org-name'
workspace_name='your-workspace-name'
url=${terraform_api}/organizations/${organization_name}/workspaces/${workspace_name}
helper_tf_apply_destroy='your-terraform-api-token'

response=`curl -s -X GET -H "Authorization: Bearer ${helper_tf_apply_destroy}" ${url}`

In this example, we're using the -H option to specify an Authorization header with our auth token. The Bearer keyword indicates that the token should be used for authentication.

Pass Cookie

The final authorization method we'll cover is by passing a cookie. This technique is often used in web development when working with session-based authentication. Here's how it works:

url='https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1'
cookie='your-session-cookie'

response=`curl -s -X GET -b USER-TOKEN=${cookie} ${url}`

In this example, we're using the -b option to specify a cookie that will be passed with our request. The USER-TOKEN variable represents the name of the cookie.

In conclusion, mastering authorization in cURL is essential for any developer working with APIs or web services. By understanding these three common methods – username/password, auth token, and pass cookie – you'll be well-equipped to handle a wide range of authentication scenarios. Whether you're building a new project or troubleshooting an issue, the techniques outlined in this article will serve as a valuable reference guide.