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httplib.rst
:mod:`httplib` --- HTTP protocol client
=======================================

.. module:: httplib
   :synopsis: HTTP and HTTPS protocol client (requires sockets).

.. note::
   The :mod:`httplib` module has been renamed to :mod:`http.client` in Python
   3.  The :term:`2to3` tool will automatically adapt imports when converting
   your sources to Python 3.


.. index::
   pair: HTTP; protocol
   single: HTTP; httplib (standard module)

.. index:: module: urllib

**Source code:** :source:`Lib/httplib.py`

--------------

This module defines classes which implement the client side of the HTTP and
HTTPS protocols.  It is normally not used directly --- the module :mod:`urllib`
uses it to handle URLs that use HTTP and HTTPS.

.. seealso::

    The `Requests package <http://requests.readthedocs.org/>`_
    is recommended for a higher-level http client interface.

.. note::

   HTTPS support is only available if the :mod:`socket` module was compiled with
   SSL support.

.. note::

   The public interface for this module changed substantially in Python 2.0.  The
   :class:`HTTP` class is retained only for backward compatibility with 1.5.2.  It
   should not be used in new code.  Refer to the online docstrings for usage.

The module provides the following classes:


.. class:: HTTPConnection(host[, port[, strict[, timeout[, source_address]]]])

   An :class:`HTTPConnection` instance represents one transaction with an HTTP
   server.  It should be instantiated passing it a host and optional port
   number.  If no port number is passed, the port is extracted from the host
   string if it has the form ``host:port``, else the default HTTP port (80) is
   used.  When True, the optional parameter *strict* (which defaults to a false
   value) causes ``BadStatusLine`` to
   be raised if the status line can't be parsed as a valid HTTP/1.0 or 1.1
   status line.  If the optional *timeout* parameter is given, blocking
   operations (like connection attempts) will timeout after that many seconds
   (if it is not given, the global default timeout setting is used).
   The optional *source_address* parameter may be a tuple of a (host, port)
   to use as the source address the HTTP connection is made from.

   For example, the following calls all create instances that connect to the server
   at the same host and port::

      >>> h1 = httplib.HTTPConnection('www.cwi.nl')
      >>> h2 = httplib.HTTPConnection('www.cwi.nl:80')
      >>> h3 = httplib.HTTPConnection('www.cwi.nl', 80)
      >>> h3 = httplib.HTTPConnection('www.cwi.nl', 80, timeout=10)

   .. versionadded:: 2.0

   .. versionchanged:: 2.6
      *timeout* was added.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.7
      *source_address* was added.


.. class:: HTTPSConnection(host[, port[, key_file[, cert_file[, strict[, timeout[, source_address[, context]]]]]]])

   A subclass of :class:`HTTPConnection` that uses SSL for communication with
   secure servers.  Default port is ``443``.  If *context* is specified, it must
   be a :class:`ssl.SSLContext` instance describing the various SSL options.

   *key_file* and *cert_file* are deprecated, please use
   :meth:`ssl.SSLContext.load_cert_chain` instead, or let
   :func:`ssl.create_default_context` select the system's trusted CA
   certificates for you.

   Please read :ref:`ssl-security` for more information on best practices.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0

   .. versionchanged:: 2.6
      *timeout* was added.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.7
      *source_address* was added.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.7.9
      *context* was added.

      This class now performs all the necessary certificate and hostname checks
      by default. To revert to the previous, unverified, behavior
      :func:`ssl._create_unverified_context` can be passed to the *context*
      parameter.


.. class:: HTTPResponse(sock, debuglevel=0, strict=0)

   Class whose instances are returned upon successful connection.  Not instantiated
   directly by user.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0

.. class:: HTTPMessage

   An :class:`HTTPMessage` instance is used to hold the headers from an HTTP
   response. It is implemented using the :class:`mimetools.Message` class and
   provides utility functions to deal with HTTP Headers. It is not directly
   instantiated by the users.


The following exceptions are raised as appropriate:


.. exception:: HTTPException

   The base class of the other exceptions in this module.  It is a subclass of
   :exc:`Exception`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: NotConnected

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: InvalidURL

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`, raised if a port is given and is either
   non-numeric or empty.

   .. versionadded:: 2.3


.. exception:: UnknownProtocol

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: UnknownTransferEncoding

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: UnimplementedFileMode

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: IncompleteRead

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: ImproperConnectionState

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: CannotSendRequest

   A subclass of :exc:`ImproperConnectionState`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: CannotSendHeader

   A subclass of :exc:`ImproperConnectionState`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: ResponseNotReady

   A subclass of :exc:`ImproperConnectionState`.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0


.. exception:: BadStatusLine

   A subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.  Raised if a server responds with a HTTP
   status code that we don't understand.

   .. versionadded:: 2.0

The constants defined in this module are:


.. data:: HTTP_PORT

   The default port for the HTTP protocol (always ``80``).


.. data:: HTTPS_PORT

   The default port for the HTTPS protocol (always ``443``).

and also the following constants for integer status codes:

+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Constant                                 | Value   | Definition                                                            |
+==========================================+=========+=======================================================================+
| :const:`CONTINUE`                        | ``100`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.1.1                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.1.1>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`SWITCHING_PROTOCOLS`             | ``101`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.1.2                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.1.2>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`PROCESSING`                      | ``102`` | WEBDAV, `RFC 2518, Section 10.1                                       |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_102>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`OK`                              | ``200`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.1                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.1>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`CREATED`                         | ``201`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.2                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.2>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`ACCEPTED`                        | ``202`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.3                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.3>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NON_AUTHORITATIVE_INFORMATION`   | ``203`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.4                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.4>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NO_CONTENT`                      | ``204`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.5                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.5>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`RESET_CONTENT`                   | ``205`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.6                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.6>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`PARTIAL_CONTENT`                 | ``206`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.2.7                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.2.7>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`MULTI_STATUS`                    | ``207`` | WEBDAV `RFC 2518, Section 10.2                                        |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_207>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`IM_USED`                         | ``226`` | Delta encoding in HTTP,                                               |
|                                          |         | :rfc:`3229`, Section 10.4.1                                           |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`MULTIPLE_CHOICES`                | ``300`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.1                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.1>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`MOVED_PERMANENTLY`               | ``301`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.2                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.2>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`FOUND`                           | ``302`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.3                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.3>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`SEE_OTHER`                       | ``303`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.4                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.4>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NOT_MODIFIED`                    | ``304`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.5                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.5>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`USE_PROXY`                       | ``305`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.6                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.6>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`TEMPORARY_REDIRECT`              | ``307`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.3.8                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.3.8>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`BAD_REQUEST`                     | ``400`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.1                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.1>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`UNAUTHORIZED`                    | ``401`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.2                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.2>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`PAYMENT_REQUIRED`                | ``402`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.3                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.3>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`FORBIDDEN`                       | ``403`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.4                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.4>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NOT_FOUND`                       | ``404`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.5                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.5>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED`              | ``405`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.6                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.6>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NOT_ACCEPTABLE`                  | ``406`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.7                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.7>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`PROXY_AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED`   | ``407`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.8                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.8>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`REQUEST_TIMEOUT`                 | ``408`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.9                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.9>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`CONFLICT`                        | ``409`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.10                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.10>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`GONE`                            | ``410`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.11                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.11>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`LENGTH_REQUIRED`                 | ``411`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.12                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.12>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`PRECONDITION_FAILED`             | ``412`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.13                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.13>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`REQUEST_ENTITY_TOO_LARGE`        | ``413`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.14                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.14>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`REQUEST_URI_TOO_LONG`            | ``414`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.15                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.15>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE`          | ``415`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.16                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.16>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`REQUESTED_RANGE_NOT_SATISFIABLE` | ``416`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.17                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.17>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`EXPECTATION_FAILED`              | ``417`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.4.18                                                               |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.4.18>`_ |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY`            | ``422`` | WEBDAV, `RFC 2518, Section 10.3                                       |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_422>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`LOCKED`                          | ``423`` | WEBDAV `RFC 2518, Section 10.4                                        |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_423>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`FAILED_DEPENDENCY`               | ``424`` | WEBDAV, `RFC 2518, Section 10.5                                       |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_424>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`UPGRADE_REQUIRED`                | ``426`` | HTTP Upgrade to TLS,                                                  |
|                                          |         | :rfc:`2817`, Section 6                                                |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR`           | ``500`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.5.1                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.1>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NOT_IMPLEMENTED`                 | ``501`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.5.2                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.2>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`BAD_GATEWAY`                     | ``502`` | HTTP/1.1 `RFC 2616, Section                                           |
|                                          |         | 10.5.3                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.3>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE`             | ``503`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.5.4                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.4>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`GATEWAY_TIMEOUT`                 | ``504`` | HTTP/1.1 `RFC 2616, Section                                           |
|                                          |         | 10.5.5                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.5>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`HTTP_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED`      | ``505`` | HTTP/1.1, `RFC 2616, Section                                          |
|                                          |         | 10.5.6                                                                |
|                                          |         | <http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html#sec10.5.6>`_  |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE`            | ``507`` | WEBDAV, `RFC 2518, Section 10.6                                       |
|                                          |         | <http://www.webdav.org/specs/rfc2518.html#STATUS_507>`_               |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| :const:`NOT_EXTENDED`                    | ``510`` | An HTTP Extension Framework,                                          |
|                                          |         | :rfc:`2774`, Section 7                                                |
+------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+


.. data:: responses

   This dictionary maps the HTTP 1.1 status codes to the W3C names.

   Example: ``httplib.responses[httplib.NOT_FOUND]`` is ``'Not Found'``.

   .. versionadded:: 2.5


.. _httpconnection-objects:

HTTPConnection Objects
----------------------

:class:`HTTPConnection` instances have the following methods:


.. method:: HTTPConnection.request(method, url[, body[, headers]])

   This will send a request to the server using the HTTP request method *method*
   and the selector *url*.  If the *body* argument is present, it should be a
   string of data to send after the headers are finished. Alternatively, it may
   be an open file object, in which case the contents of the file is sent; this
   file object should support ``fileno()`` and ``read()`` methods. The
   *headers* argument should be a mapping of extra HTTP headers to send with
   the request.

   If one is not provided in *headers*, a ``Content-Length`` header is added
   automatically for all methods if the length of the body can be determined,
   either from the length of the ``str`` representation, or from the reported
   size of the file on disk. If *body* is ``None`` the header is not set except
   for methods that expect a body (``PUT``, ``POST``, and ``PATCH``) in which
   case it is set to ``0``.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.6
      *body* can be a file object.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.getresponse()

   Should be called after a request is sent to get the response from the server.
   Returns an :class:`HTTPResponse` instance.

   .. note::

      Note that you must have read the whole response before you can send a new
      request to the server.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.set_debuglevel(level)

   Set the debugging level (the amount of debugging output printed). The default
   debug level is ``0``, meaning no debugging output is printed.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.set_tunnel(host,port=None, headers=None)

   Set the host and the port for HTTP Connect Tunnelling. Normally used when
   it is required to do HTTPS Conection through a proxy server.

   The headers argument should be a mapping of extra HTTP headers to send
   with the CONNECT request.

   .. versionadded:: 2.7


.. method:: HTTPConnection.connect()

   Connect to the server specified when the object was created.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.close()

   Close the connection to the server.

As an alternative to using the :meth:`request` method described above, you can
also send your request step by step, by using the four functions below.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.putrequest(request, selector[, skip_host[, skip_accept_encoding]])

   This should be the first call after the connection to the server has been made.
   It sends a line to the server consisting of the *request* string, the *selector*
   string, and the HTTP version (``HTTP/1.1``).  To disable automatic sending of
   ``Host:`` or ``Accept-Encoding:`` headers (for example to accept additional
   content encodings), specify *skip_host* or *skip_accept_encoding* with non-False
   values.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.4
      *skip_accept_encoding* argument added.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.putheader(header, argument[, ...])

   Send an :rfc:`822`\ -style header to the server.  It sends a line to the server
   consisting of the header, a colon and a space, and the first argument.  If more
   arguments are given, continuation lines are sent, each consisting of a tab and
   an argument.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.endheaders(message_body=None)

   Send a blank line to the server, signalling the end of the headers. The
   optional *message_body* argument can be used to pass a message body
   associated with the request.  The message body will be sent in the same
   packet as the message headers if it is string, otherwise it is sent in a
   separate packet.

   .. versionchanged:: 2.7
      *message_body* was added.


.. method:: HTTPConnection.send(data)

   Send data to the server.  This should be used directly only after the
   :meth:`endheaders` method has been called and before :meth:`getresponse` is
   called.


.. _httpresponse-objects:

HTTPResponse Objects
--------------------

:class:`HTTPResponse` instances have the following methods and attributes:


.. method:: HTTPResponse.read([amt])

   Reads and returns the response body, or up to the next *amt* bytes.


.. method:: HTTPResponse.getheader(name[, default])

   Get the contents of the header *name*, or *default* if there is no matching
   header.


.. method:: HTTPResponse.getheaders()

   Return a list of (header, value) tuples.

   .. versionadded:: 2.4

.. method:: HTTPResponse.fileno()

   Returns the ``fileno`` of the underlying socket.

.. attribute:: HTTPResponse.msg

   A :class:`mimetools.Message` instance containing the response headers.


.. attribute:: HTTPResponse.version

   HTTP protocol version used by server.  10 for HTTP/1.0, 11 for HTTP/1.1.


.. attribute:: HTTPResponse.status

   Status code returned by server.


.. attribute:: HTTPResponse.reason

   Reason phrase returned by server.


.. _httplib-examples:

Examples
--------

Here is an example session that uses the ``GET`` method::

   >>> import httplib
   >>> conn = httplib.HTTPSConnection("www.python.org")
   >>> conn.request("GET", "/")
   >>> r1 = conn.getresponse()
   >>> print r1.status, r1.reason
   200 OK
   >>> data1 = r1.read()
   >>> conn.request("GET", "/")
   >>> r2 = conn.getresponse()
   >>> print r2.status, r2.reason
   404 Not Found
   >>> data2 = r2.read()
   >>> conn.close()

Here is an example session that uses the ``HEAD`` method.  Note that the
``HEAD`` method never returns any data. ::

   >>> import httplib
   >>> conn = httplib.HTTPSConnection("www.python.org")
   >>> conn.request("HEAD","/")
   >>> res = conn.getresponse()
   >>> print res.status, res.reason
   200 OK
   >>> data = res.read()
   >>> print len(data)
   0
   >>> data == ''
   True

Here is an example session that shows how to ``POST`` requests::

   >>> import httplib, urllib
   >>> params = urllib.urlencode({'@number': 12524, '@type': 'issue', '@action': 'show'})
   >>> headers = {"Content-type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
   ...            "Accept": "text/plain"}
   >>> conn = httplib.HTTPConnection("bugs.python.org")
   >>> conn.request("POST", "", params, headers)
   >>> response = conn.getresponse()
   >>> print response.status, response.reason
   302 Found
   >>> data = response.read()
   >>> data
   'Redirecting to <a href="http://bugs.python.org/issue12524">http://bugs.python.org/issue12524</a>'
   >>> conn.close()

Client side ``HTTP PUT`` requests are very similar to ``POST`` requests. The
difference lies only the server side where HTTP server will allow resources to
be created via ``PUT`` request. Here is an example session that shows how to do
``PUT`` request using httplib::

    >>> # This creates an HTTP message
    >>> # with the content of BODY as the enclosed representation
    >>> # for the resource http://localhost:8080/foobar
    ...
    >>> import httplib
    >>> BODY = "***filecontents***"
    >>> conn = httplib.HTTPConnection("localhost", 8080)
    >>> conn.request("PUT", "/file", BODY)
    >>> response = conn.getresponse()
    >>> print response.status, response.reason
    200, OK

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