How to send POST Requests with Python Requests Library

Sending POST requests in Python is simplified with the requests library, a popular and user-friendly tool for handling HTTP operations. This guide walks you through sending POST requests, using the library efficiently, and exploring its versatile features.

How to Send a POST Request in Python?

To send a POST request, use the requests.post() method, providing:

1. The target URL as the first parameter.
2. POST data via the data= parameter.

For the server to process the data correctly, set the Content-Type header in the request. If not specified, it defaults to application/x-www-form-urlencoded. Here’s a simple example:

import requests  

url = "https://reqbin.com/echo/post/json"  
payload = {"key": "value"}  

response = requests.post(url, data=payload)  
print(response.text)  

What is the Python Requests Library?

The requests library is a widely-used Python module for making HTTP requests. It simplifies handling methods like POST, GET, DELETE, and more. With requests, you can:

• Submit forms.
• Upload files or images.
• Send JSON or XML data.

Compared to Python’s built-in urllib3 module, requests is more user-friendly and requires less boilerplate code.

What is HTTP POST?

The HTTP POST method is used to:

• Submit data to a server.
• Upload files.
• Change server states.

POST differs from GET in that it can modify server-side resources and is not idempotent, meaning repeated requests may have different effects.

How to Get Started with the Python Requests Library

Installation:

Install the library using pip:

pip install requests  

Or, with Pipenv:

pipenv install requests  

Importing Requests:

Once installed, use this in your Python script:

import requests  

Using the POST Method with Python Requests

POST Request Syntax

requests.post(url, data=data, json=json, headers=headers)  

Example: Submit an HTML Form

url = "https://reqbin.com/echo/post/form"  
form_data = {"name": "Dharmender", "age": "30"}  

response = requests.post(url, data=form_data)  
print(response.status_code)  

Advanced Features of Python POST Requests

POST JSON Data

To send JSON data, use the json= parameter. The library will automatically set the Content-Type: application/json header.

payload = {"name": "Dharmender", "job": "Developer"}  
response = requests.post(url, json=payload)  

Upload a File

Send files using the files= parameter:

files = {'file': open('example.txt', 'rb')}  
response = requests.post(url, files=files)  

Upload Multiple Files

For multiple files, pass a list of file tuples:

files = [('file1', open('example1.txt', 'rb')), ('file2', open('example2.txt', 'rb'))]  
response = requests.post(url, files=files)  

Custom Headers

To include custom headers, use the headers= parameter:

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer token123"}  
response = requests.post(url, headers=headers)  

Send Cookies

Include cookies with the cookies= parameter:

cookies = {'session_id': '12345'}  
response = requests.post(url, cookies=cookies)  

Authentication

Send credentials using the auth= parameter:

from requests.auth import HTTPBasicAuth  
response = requests.post(url, auth=HTTPBasicAuth('username', 'password'))  

With its ease of use and robust functionality, the requests library stands out as the go-to tool for handling HTTP requests in Python. Whether you need to upload files, send JSON data, or handle authentication, this library has you covered.

Keep Learning 🙂