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python requests see what was sent

Narkw Brahma

Narkw Brahma

• 2 min read

How to see what was sent in Python Requests?

Python Requests is a popular library for making HTTP requests in Python. It provides a simple and elegant way of interacting with websites and APIs. Sometimes, you may need to see what was sent in a request to debug issues or to understand how to interact with an API. In this article, we will explore how to see what was sent in Python Requests.

Method 1: Print the request body

The simplest way to see what was sent in Python Requests is to print the request body. The request body contains the data that is sent in the request, including form data, JSON data, or binary data.


import requests

url = "https://example.com/api"
data = {"key": "value"}

response = requests.post(url, json=data)

print(response.request.body)

In this example, we are sending a POST request to https://example.com/api with JSON data. We can print the request body by accessing response.request.body attribute. This will print the JSON data that was sent in the request.

Method 2: Use a tool like Postman or curl

If you are interacting with an API, you can use a tool like Postman or curl to see what was sent in the request. These tools provide a graphical interface for making requests and viewing responses.

For example, if you are using Postman, you can create a new request, enter the URL and data, and then click on the "Body" tab. This will show you the request body that will be sent when you click on the "Send" button.

Method 3: Use a proxy like Fiddler

If you want to see the request and response headers as well as the body, you can use a proxy like Fiddler. Fiddler intercepts the requests and responses and allows you to view and modify them.

To use Fiddler with Python Requests, you need to configure Python Requests to use the proxy. You can do this by setting the proxies parameter when making a request.


import requests

url = "https://example.com/api"
data = {"key": "value"}

proxies = {
  "http": "http://127.0.0.1:8888",
  "https": "http://127.0.0.1:8888",
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, proxies=proxies)

In this example, we are sending a POST request to https://example.com/api with JSON data and using a proxy on localhost port 8888. After making the request, we can open Fiddler and view the request and response headers and body.

Conclusion

Python Requests is a powerful library for making HTTP requests in Python. There are several ways to see what was sent in a request, including printing the request body, using a tool like Postman or curl, or using a proxy like Fiddler. Choose the method that works best for your situation and debug your code with ease.

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