---
c: Copyright (C) Daniel Stenberg, <daniel@haxx.se>, et al.
SPDX-License-Identifier: curl
Long: request-target
Arg: <path>
Help: Specify the target for this request
Protocols: HTTP
Added: 7.55.0
Category: http
Multi: single
See-also:
  - request
Example:
  - --request-target "*" -X OPTIONS $URL
---

# `--request-target`

Tells curl to use an alternative target (path) instead of using the path as
provided in the URL. Particularly useful when wanting to issue HTTP requests
without leading slash or other data that does not follow the regular URL
pattern, like "OPTIONS *".

curl passes on the verbatim string you give it its the request without any
filter or other safe guards. That includes white space and control characters.