cURL
Explain a cURL command
Copied a cURL command you do not quite trust, or fully understand? Get the facts first from the parser, then a plain-language explanation if you want one, all without running anything.
curl -sSL -X PUT https://api.example.com/v2/items/58 \ -H 'X-Api-Key: YOUR_KEY' \ --data-raw '{"status":"archived"}' | jq .Sends an HTTP PUT request tohttps://api.example.com/v2/items/58• Header X-Api-Key supplies an API key• Body is JSON: {"status":"archived"}• -L follows redirects; -s and -S control progress and error output onlyThe "| jq ." part is a shell pipe and isnot part of the HTTP request.Two layers: facts, then explanation
The deterministic parser gives you the request’s structure without AI: method, URL, headers, authentication and body. That is often all you need. If you want the meaning spelled out, Explain adds a short plain-language description of the request the command would send.
Useful for commands you did not write
- Examples in API docs and issue threads
- “Copy as cURL” output from browser dev tools
- One-liners in runbooks and CI scripts
- Commands pasted into support tickets
Explanation is described, not run
The explanation prompt asks the model to describe the HTTP request the command would send, without running it. DocuFormat does not execute cURL, and no request is made at any point.
You stay in control
Explain only runs when you click it, and you confirm the first time that your content will go to an AI provider. Credentials in the command are not masked, so replace real tokens with placeholders before asking. For a deterministic, AI-free view, use the cURL formatter.
Questions, answered
Is the explanation generated by AI?
Yes, and it is labelled as AI-generated. The structural breakdown (method, URL, headers, body) is produced by the deterministic parser, with no AI.
Does it execute the command to find out what it does?
No. The command is never run and no request is sent.
Can I explain a command that has an error?
Yes. AI Fix can also propose a corrected command, which you review before using.