Python httpx.Request() Guide: HTTP Requests

Python's httpx.Request() is a powerful tool for making HTTP requests. It is part of the httpx library, which is designed for modern web development.

This guide will walk you through the basics of using httpx.Request(). You will learn how to create and send HTTP requests, handle responses, and more.

What is httpx.Request()?

httpx.Request() is a class in the httpx library. It allows you to create HTTP requests with custom methods, headers, and bodies. This is useful for interacting with APIs and web services.

Unlike httpx.Client(), which simplifies HTTP requests, httpx.Request() gives you more control. You can specify every detail of the request.

Creating a Basic HTTP Request

To create a basic HTTP request, you need to import the httpx library and use the Request() class. Here's an example:

import httpx

# Create a GET request
request = httpx.Request("GET", "https://example.com")
    

In this example, a GET request is created for the URL "https://example.com". The Request() class takes the HTTP method and URL as arguments.

Sending the Request

Once you create a request, you can send it using httpx.Client(). Here's how:

# Send the request
with httpx.Client() as client:
    response = client.send(request)
    print(response.status_code)
    

This code sends the request and prints the status code of the response. The send() method is used to execute the request.

Handling Responses

After sending a request, you will receive a response. The response contains data like status code, headers, and body. Here's how to handle it:

# Print response details
print(response.status_code)  # Status code
print(response.headers)      # Response headers
print(response.text)         # Response body
    

For more details on handling responses, check out our guide on Python httpx.Response().

Customizing Requests

You can customize requests by adding headers, query parameters, and a body. Here's an example:

# Create a POST request with headers and body
request = httpx.Request(
    "POST",
    "https://example.com",
    headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
    json={"key": "value"}
)
    

This example creates a POST request with JSON data. The headers and json parameters are used to customize the request.

Handling Timeouts and Limits

When making HTTP requests, you may need to handle timeouts and limits. The httpx.Timeout() and httpx.Limits() classes can help.

Learn more about these in our guides on Python httpx.Timeout() and Python httpx.Limits().

Conclusion

httpx.Request() is a versatile tool for making HTTP requests in Python. It provides fine-grained control over request details, making it ideal for advanced use cases.

By following this guide, you can start using httpx.Request() effectively. For more advanced topics, explore our other guides on async requests and streaming requests.