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 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)