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.

       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 contents. 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_POSTFIELDS(3)  to
              set  POST  data.  Use CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3) to replace or extend the set of headers
              sent by libcurl. Use CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION(3) to change HTTP version.

       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 returned 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 request. If the  CURLOPT_NOBODY(3)  option
              is specified then the request 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

       Returns   CURLE_OK   if   the   option  is  supported,  CURLE_UNKNOWN_OPTION  if  not,  or
       CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY if there was insufficient heap space.

SEE ALSO

       CURLINFO_EFFECTIVE_METHOD(3),          CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3),           CURLOPT_NOBODY(3),
       CURLOPT_REQUEST_TARGET(3)