PHP CURL Using POST Raw JSON Data

Question

I am working with PHP curl for post, for some reason I couldn't post the form successfully.

$ch = curl_init();
$headers = [
            'x-api-key: XXXXXX',
            'Content-Type: text/plain'
        ];
$postData = array (
    'data1: value1',
    'data2: value2'
);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL,"XXXXXX");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $postData);           
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, $headers);

$server_output = curl_exec ($ch);

When I try using the same in post it works, but not with PHP.

var_dump($server_output) ==> string(67) ""require data1 and data2 or check the post parameters""
var_dump(curl_error($ch)) ==> string(0) ""

What do var_dump($server_output) and var_dump(curl_error($ch)) give you? — laurent
– laurent, Commented Jul 3, 2017 at 10:04
If you're sending text/plain, $postData should be a string, not an array. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Jul 3, 2017 at 10:06
I suggest you to check this answer stackoverflow.com/a/13596901/1970395 as it also applies to your case. You should build post string from your array instead of passing an array. — pzaj
– pzaj, Commented Jul 3, 2017 at 10:07
Are you sure the API wants the parameters in plain text? Most use either url-encoded or JSON. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Jul 3, 2017 at 10:09

Dolly Aswin · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-16 03:31:38Z

32

If you wanna use Content-type: application/json and raw data, seem your data should be in json format

$ch = curl_init();
$headers  = [
            'x-api-key: XXXXXX',
            'Content-Type: application/json'
        ];
$postData = [
    'data1' => 'value1',
    'data2' => 'value2'
];
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL,"XXXXXX");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($postData));           
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, $headers);
$result     = curl_exec ($ch);
$statusCode = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);

edited Nov 16, 2022 at 3:31

answered Jul 3, 2017 at 10:39

Dolly Aswin

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3 Comments

Codedreamer Over a year ago

The block array patterns is the key to the solution.

danronmoon Over a year ago

Why is it text/plain in your answer?

Nathaniel Rogers Over a year ago

I found that the header needs to be 'Content-Type: application/json' in order to process the requests "Raw" body content as JSON

nensamuel · Accepted Answer · 2025-09-24 08:30:37Z

9

If you want an arranged and explained format, see the code below.

// Set The API URL
$url = 'http://www.example.com/api';

// Create a new cURL resource
$ch = curl_init($url);

// Setup request to send json via POST`
$payload = json_encode(array(
    'data1' => 'value1',
    'data2' => 'value2'
   )
);

// Attach encoded JSON string to the POST fields
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $payload);

// Set the content type to application/json
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array('x-api-key: XXXXXX', 'Content-Type: application/json'));

// Return response instead of outputting
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);

// Execute the POST request
$result = curl_exec($ch);

// Get the POST request header status
$status = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);

// If header status is not Created or not OK, return error message
if (!$status  || !($status == 201 || $status == 200)) {
   die("Error: call to URL $url failed with status $status, response $result, curl_error " . curl_error($ch) . ", curl_errno " . curl_errno($ch));
}

// Close cURL resource
curl_close($ch);

// if you need to process the response from the API further
$response = json_decode($result, true);

I hope this helps someone

edited Sep 24 at 8:30

answered Apr 27, 2020 at 12:05

nensamuel

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4 Comments

Nick Weavers Over a year ago

Check on status should be if (!$status || !($status == 201 || $status == 200)) {

nensamuel Over a year ago

Brilliant observation @NickWeavers

danronmoon Over a year ago

Why are both answers setting to Content-Type header to text/plain?

nensamuel Over a year ago

@danronmoon Thanks for the observation, I just updated it to reflect 'application/json'

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