Downloading files is a fundamental task for many users, whether it's for fetching software updates, retrieving data, or obtaining media files. On macOS, while the graphical interface provides straightforward methods for downloading files via browsers like Safari, there are powerful command-line tools available that can be more efficient, especially for automation or remote access scenarios. This article will explore how to download files using Terminal on macOS, highlighting the importance of this skill for users who want to streamline their workflows and leverage the full potential of their systems.

Examples:

1. Using curl to Download a File: The curl command is a versatile tool for transferring data with URLs. It's pre-installed on macOS, making it readily available for use.

   curl -O https://example.com/file.zip

   In this example, the -O option tells curl to save the file with its original name.

2. Using wget to Download a File: While wget is not pre-installed on macOS, it can be easily installed via Homebrew. First, install Homebrew if you haven't already:

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

   Then, install wget:

   brew install wget

   Now you can use wget to download files:

   wget https://example.com/file.zip

3. Downloading Files from SFTP Servers: If you need to download files from an SFTP server, you can use the sftp command:

   sftp username@hostname
   get /path/to/remote/file.zip /path/to/local/destination/file.zip

   Replace username, hostname, and the file paths with the appropriate values.

4. Downloading Files via SCP: The scp (secure copy) command is another method for downloading files from remote servers:

   scp username@hostname:/path/to/remote/file.zip /path/to/local/destination/file.zip

   Again, replace username, hostname, and the file paths with the appropriate values.