Question
I can successfully call my Java web service using Postman with a POST request, and the request inserts records into the database correctly.
I now need to make the same request from PHP using cURL instead of Postman.
Is there a way to export a Postman request as a cURL command, so I can reuse the same method in my PHP code? I have found many examples of converting cURL to Postman, but I need to do the reverse: convert a Postman request to cURL.
For example, if my Postman request includes headers and a request body, I want to produce an equivalent cURL command like this:
curl -X POST "http://example.com/api/items" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer your-token" \
-d '{"name":"Book","price":25}'
Then I want to translate that request into PHP cURL code.
Short Answer
By the end of this page, you will understand how a Postman request maps to a cURL command, how to identify the important parts of the request such as method, URL, headers, and body, and how to reproduce the same request in PHP using cURL.
Concept
A Postman request and a cURL request are just two different ways to describe the same HTTP operation.
The core idea is that an HTTP request is made of a few standard parts:
- HTTP method:
GET,POST,PUT,DELETE, etc. - URL: the endpoint you are calling
- Headers: extra metadata such as
Content-TypeorAuthorization - Body: the data sent with the request, usually for
POSTorPUT
Postman provides a graphical interface for building these parts. cURL provides a command-line way to build the same request.
In PHP, the cURL extension lets you create that same HTTP request in code.
This matters because in real applications, developers often test an API in Postman first, then implement the same request in application code. Being able to translate from Postman to cURL or PHP helps you move from manual testing to automation.
A useful way to think about it is:
- Postman = visual request builder
- cURL command = text version of the request
- PHP cURL = programmable version of the request
If you understand the HTTP parts, converting between these tools becomes straightforward.
Mental Model
Think of an HTTP request like sending a package.
- The URL is the destination address.
- The method tells what kind of delivery action you want, such as sending new data with
POST. - The headers are labels on the package, such as
FragileorExpress. - The body is the actual content inside the package.
Postman is like filling out a form at a shipping desk.
cURL is like writing the shipping instructions in a single command.
PHP cURL is like teaching a program how to prepare and send that package automatically whenever needed.
Syntax and Examples
Core cURL syntax
curl -X POST "http://example.com/api/items" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer your-token" \
-d '{"name":"Book","price":25}'
What each part means
-X POSTsets the HTTP method"http://example.com/api/items"is the endpoint URL-Hadds a request header-dsends the request body
Equivalent PHP cURL example
<?php
$url = "http://example.com/api/items";
$data = json_encode([
"name" => "Book",
"price" => 25
]);
$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $data);
curl_setopt(, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
,
,
. ()
]);
(, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, );
= ();
( === ) {
. ();
}
();
;
Step by Step Execution
Consider this PHP example:
<?php
$url = "http://example.com/api/items";
$data = json_encode(["name" => "Pen"]);
$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $data);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
"Content-Type: application/json"
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
Step by step
-
json_encode(["name" => "Pen"])- Creates the JSON body:
{"name":"Pen"}
-
curl_init($url)
Real World Use Cases
This conversion is useful in many real situations:
- API integration: test an endpoint in Postman, then implement it in PHP
- Backend automation: replace manual API testing with scheduled scripts
- Form submission: send user input from a PHP app to another service
- Microservices: one service calls another service over HTTP
- Data synchronization: push records from one system into another
- Webhook simulation: reproduce and debug requests outside Postman
For example, a team might:
- build and verify a request in Postman
- export it as cURL
- turn it into PHP cURL code inside the application
- add error handling and logging
That workflow is very common in production development.
Real Codebase Usage
In real projects, developers usually do more than just send the request once.
Common patterns include:
Validation before sending
Make sure required values exist before calling the API.
if (empty($token)) {
throw new Exception("Missing API token");
}
Reusable request wrappers
Instead of repeating cURL setup everywhere, teams often create helper functions.
function postJson($url, array $payload, array $headers = []) {
$json = json_encode($payload);
$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $json);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array_merge([
,
. ()
], ));
(, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, );
= ();
( === ) {
(());
}
();
;
}
Common Mistakes
1. Forgetting the correct Content-Type
If Postman sends JSON, your PHP code should usually send:
"Content-Type: application/json"
Broken example:
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, ["name" => "Book"]);
Why this is a problem:
- PHP may send form data instead of JSON.
- The server may reject the request or parse it incorrectly.
2. Sending an array when the API expects JSON
Correct approach:
$data = json_encode(["name" => "Book"]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $data);
3. Missing headers from the Postman request
If your Postman request uses headers such as:
AuthorizationAcceptContent-Type- custom headers
Comparisons
Postman vs cURL vs PHP cURL
| Tool | Main use | Best for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postman | GUI API testing | Manual testing and exploration | Not application code |
| cURL command | Command-line HTTP requests | Quick testing and scripting | Less convenient for large app logic |
| PHP cURL | HTTP requests in PHP code | Production applications and automation | Requires coding and error handling |
cURL command vs PHP cURL
| Aspect | cURL command | PHP cURL |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Shell command | PHP code |
| Good for |
Cheat Sheet
Quick mapping from Postman to cURL
- Method →
-X POST - URL → request URL
- Headers →
-H "Header-Name: value" - Body →
-d '...'
Basic cURL command
curl -X POST "http://example.com/api" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"key":"value"}'
Basic PHP cURL pattern
$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $jsonData);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
"Content-Type: application/json"
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
$httpCode = curl_getinfo(, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
();
FAQ
Can Postman export a request as cURL?
Yes. Postman can generate code snippets for requests, including cURL, which you can then adapt into PHP.
Is a Postman request the same as a cURL request?
Yes, if the method, URL, headers, and body are the same, they represent the same HTTP request.
Do I need to copy every header from Postman?
No. Only copy the headers your API actually needs, such as Content-Type, Authorization, and any required custom headers.
Why does my PHP cURL request fail when Postman works?
Usually because of a mismatch in headers, body format, authentication, or missing JSON encoding.
Should I send an array or a JSON string in CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS?
If the API expects JSON, send a JSON string created with json_encode().
How do I see the server response in PHP cURL?
Set CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER to true and store the result of curl_exec() in a variable.
How can I debug a PHP cURL request?
Check curl_error($ch), inspect the HTTP status code with curl_getinfo(), and compare the request carefully with the working Postman version.
Mini Project
Description
Build a small PHP script that sends a POST request to an API endpoint using cURL. This project demonstrates how to take a request you might first test in Postman and implement the same behavior in application code, including headers, JSON body, response handling, and basic error checks.
Goal
Create a reusable PHP script that sends JSON data with a POST request and prints the response and HTTP status code.
Requirements
Requirement 1 Requirement 2 Requirement 3
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