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python requests post size limit

Narkw Brahma

Narkw Brahma

• 1 min read

Python Requests POST Size Limit

Python Requests is a popular library used for making HTTP requests in Python. It is widely used for its simplicity and ease of use. However, the library has a limitation when it comes to the size of the data that can be sent through a POST request.

Size Limit

The size limit for a data payload in a POST request is determined by the HTTP server that is receiving the request. Most servers have a limit set on the size of the data that can be sent in a single request. If the size limit is exceeded, the server will respond with an error. This error is typically a 413 Request Entity Too Large error.

How to Handle the Size Limit

If you are working with a server that has a size limit set, there are a few ways to handle it:

  • Splitting Data: You can split the data into smaller chunks and send multiple POST requests. This can be achieved using the Python Requests library by sending multiple requests with smaller data payloads.
  • Compression: You can compress the data before sending it over the network. This can be done using a compression algorithm such as gzip or zlib. The Python Requests library supports sending compressed data by setting the "Content-Encoding" header.
  • Chunked Transfer Encoding: You can use chunked transfer encoding to send large data payloads. This is a feature of HTTP that allows for data to be sent in smaller chunks. The Python Requests library supports sending data using chunked transfer encoding by setting the "Transfer-Encoding" header.

Code Example


import requests
import json

data = {'key1': 'value1', 'key2': 'value2'}

# Splitting Data
split_data = json.dumps(data)
split_data_chunks = [split_data[i:i+100] for i in range(0, len(split_data), 100)]
for chunk in split_data_chunks:
  response = requests.post('http://example.com/api', data=chunk)
  print(response.status_code)

# Compression
compressed_data = json.dumps(data).encode('utf-8')
headers = {'Content-Encoding': 'gzip'}
response = requests.post('http://example.com/api', data=compressed_data, headers=headers)
print(response.status_code)

# Chunked Transfer Encoding
chunked_data = json.dumps(data).encode('utf-8')
headers = {'Transfer-Encoding': 'chunked'}
response = requests.post('http://example.com/api', data=chunked_data, headers=headers)
print(response.status_code)
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