When you want to download files from the internet, you typically open your web browser, go to the file in question, and let the downloading commence. But did you know there's a much better way? That way is thewgetcommand.

Thewgetcommand uses multiple simultaneous connections that result in much faster downloads. On top of that,wgetis capable of resuming downloads that were interrupted by networking issues. Besides, unlike web browsers,wgetisn't burdened by cookies, add-ons, and other features that can slow it down or make it less reliable -- especially helpful when you need to download a larger file. Why relegate that to your browser?

Instead, if you're using Linux, opt to go thewgetroute. Let me show you how.

How to install wget

What you'll need:To make use of wget, you'll need a running instance of Linux and a user with sudo privileges (for the installation).

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wget https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04.3/ubuntu-22.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso

One thing to keep in mind is that the file will download in the directory in which you are currently working.

wget -P /ISO/ https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04.3/ubuntu-22.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso

How to download multiple files at once with wget

Here's another cool trick. With wget, you can download multiple files at once. Here's how.

nano downloads

In that file, add the three URLs for the downloads, like so:

https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04.3/ubuntu-22.04.3-desktop-amd64.isohttps://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/39/Workstation/x86_64/iso/Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-39-1.5.isohttp://mirrors.acm.wpi.edu/archlinux/iso/2023.12.01/archlinux-2023.12.01-x86_64.iso

Save and close the file.

wget -i downloads

You can then walk away and let the downloads complete.

wget -c https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04.3/ubuntu-22.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso

If you're downloading via a file (as we did above) and it gets interrupted, you could continue it like so:

wget -c -i downloads

And that's all there is to use the wget to more reliably (and quickly) download files to your Linux machine. 

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