_ ReconLab
Commands  / Core Linux  / wget

wget

Non-interactive downloader & site mirror.

KaliParrotLinuxlow

pkg: wget

wget retrieves files over HTTP(S)/FTP, with recursion to mirror entire sites and robust retry logic.

Syntax

wget [options] {url}

Example

wget -m -np https://example.com/docs/

Mirrors (-m) the docs directory without ascending to the parent (-np).

Options & flags

What each switch does. Toggle them in the builder below to assemble a command.

-mMirror a site (recursive, timestamps, etc.).
-npNo parent — stay within the start directory.
-rRecursive download.
-P <downloads>Save files into this directory.
-cContinue/resume a partial download.
--user-agent <Mozilla/5.0>Set a custom User-Agent.
-qQuiet mode.

Command builder

Tick options (and fill any values) to build a ready-to-copy command.

wget URL

Usage examples

wget https://target.tld/file.zip

Download a single file.

wget -m -np https://target.tld/docs/

Mirror a directory without ascending.

Advantages
  • Great for recursive mirroring
  • Robust resume/retries
  • Simple for batch downloads
Disadvantages
  • Less flexible than curl for APIs
  • Recursive mirrors can be huge/noisy
  • No JS rendering
Tags
#download#mirror#http

Official docs: GNU wget ↗

Related commands

curl

Transfer data with URLs (HTTP and many protocols).

Frequently asked questions

What is wget used for?
wget retrieves files over HTTP(S)/FTP, with recursion to mirror entire sites and robust retry logic.
What is an example wget command?
A common example is: wget -m -np https://example.com/docs/ — Mirrors (-m) the docs directory without ascending to the parent (-np).
Is wget part of Kali Linux?
Yes. wget ships with Kali Linux (and Parrot OS). If missing, install it with: sudo apt install wget.
What category of security tool is wget?
wget is a Core Linux tool with a low-risk profile when run against a live target.

Try recon tools live

Run real scans against a domain you control, stage by stage.

Open the lab →