Downloading Files with Python Requests

Downloading files using the Python Requests library is a straightforward process. By making a GET, POST, or PUT request to a target URL, you can retrieve the file’s content and save it to your local disk. The response data can be accessed via response.content, response.json, or response.raw. Once retrieved, the file is written to disk using Python’s file object methods.

Here’s an example of downloading a file from a URL and saving it in binary format:

import requests  

url = "https://example.com/file.zip"  
response = requests.get(url)  

with open("file.zip", "wb") as file:  
    file.write(response.content)  

print("File downloaded successfully!")  

This approach is efficient for handling large files since the response can be streamed and saved in chunks.

What is the Python Requests Library?

The Python Requests library is a widely-used HTTP library that simplifies sending requests such as GET, POST, and DELETE. It offers features like:

• Posting JSON and XML data.
• Submitting HTML forms.
• Uploading files.

The Requests library automatically:

• Validates SSL certificates for secure connections.
• Supports session cookies for maintaining state across requests.
• Handles international domain names seamlessly.

Although not part of Python’s standard library, its simplicity and power make it a preferred choice for developers.

How to Install the Python Requests Library

Before you can use the Requests library, you need to install it. Use the following command to install it via pip:

pip install requests  

Once installed, you can import the library and start making HTTP requests:

import requests  

Steps to Download a File Using Python Requests

1. Send a Request: Use requests.get() or similar methods to send a request to the file URL.
2. Access the File Data: Use response.content for binary data, response.text for text-based data, or response.raw for streaming.
3. Save the File: Open a file in write mode (“wb” for binary) and save the content using file.write().

Example: Downloading a File in Chunks

When downloading large files, use the stream=True parameter to avoid memory issues:

import requests  

url = "https://example.com/largefile.zip"  
response = requests.get(url, stream=True)  

with open("largefile.zip", "wb") as file:  
    for chunk in response.iter_content(chunk_size=8192):  
        file.write(chunk)  

print("Large file downloaded successfully!")  

This method ensures the file is downloaded in manageable chunks, preventing excessive memory usage.

Advantages of Using Python Requests for File Downloads

• Simple and Intuitive API: Reduces complexity with a clean interface.
• Streaming Support: Handles large files efficiently.
• Custom Headers: Allows you to send additional metadata with requests.
• Cross-Protocol Support: Works with HTTP, HTTPS, and more.

The Python Requests library is a powerful tool for downloading files over the internet. Whether you’re working with small files or large datasets, it offers a flexible and efficient solution. By following the examples provided, you can seamlessly integrate file download capabilities into your Python projects.

Keep Learning 🙂