Last modified: Jan 30, 2025 By Alexander Williams
Python httpx.stream_lines() Guide: Stream HTTP Lines
Python's httpx
library is a powerful tool for making HTTP requests. One of its standout features is the ability to stream responses. This guide focuses on httpx.stream_lines(), a method that allows you to stream HTTP responses line by line.
What is httpx.stream_lines()?
The httpx.stream_lines()
method is used to stream HTTP responses line by line. This is particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or real-time data streams. Instead of loading the entire response into memory, you can process it incrementally.
Why Use httpx.stream_lines()?
Streaming data line by line can save memory and improve performance. This is especially important when working with large files or continuous data streams. By using httpx.stream_lines()
, you can handle data more efficiently.
How to Use httpx.stream_lines()
To use httpx.stream_lines()
, you first need to make an HTTP request. Then, you can iterate over the response lines. Here's a simple example:
import httpx
url = "https://example.com/large-data"
with httpx.stream("GET", url) as response:
for line in response.stream_lines():
print(line)
In this example, the response is streamed line by line. Each line is printed as it is received. This approach is memory-efficient and suitable for large datasets.
Example with Code Comments
Let's break down the example with comments for better understanding:
import httpx
# Define the URL of the large dataset
url = "https://example.com/large-data"
# Make a streaming GET request
with httpx.stream("GET", url) as response:
# Iterate over each line in the response
for line in response.stream_lines():
# Print each line
print(line)
This code makes a GET request to the specified URL and streams the response line by line. Each line is printed as it is received, making it easy to process large datasets without loading them entirely into memory.
Handling Errors
When streaming data, it's important to handle errors gracefully. You can use try-except blocks to catch and handle exceptions. Here's an example:
import httpx
url = "https://example.com/large-data"
try:
with httpx.stream("GET", url) as response:
for line in response.stream_lines():
print(line)
except httpx.RequestError as e:
print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
In this example, any request errors are caught and printed. This ensures that your program can handle unexpected issues without crashing.
Conclusion
The httpx.stream_lines()
method is a powerful tool for streaming HTTP responses line by line. It is memory-efficient and ideal for handling large datasets or real-time data streams. By following the examples in this guide, you can start using httpx.stream_lines() in your Python projects today.
For more information on related topics, check out our guides on Python httpx.stream_bytes(), Python httpx.stream_json(), and Python httpx.stream_text().