CURLINFO\_PRETRANSFER\_TIME(3) Library Functions Manual CURLINFO\_PRETRANSFER\_TIME(3)

# [NAME](#NAME)

CURLINFO\_PRETRANSFER\_TIME - time to transfer start

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_getinfo(CURL *handle, CURLINFO_PRETRANSFER_TIME,


                           double *timep);
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Pass a pointer to a double to receive the time, in seconds, it took from the start until the file transfer is about to begin.

This time-stamp includes all pre-transfer commands and negotiations that are specific to the particular protocol(s) involved. It includes the sending of the protocol-specific instructions that trigger a transfer.

When a redirect is followed, the time from each request is added together.

See also the TIMES overview in the [*curl\_easy\_getinfo(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_getinfo.3) man page.

# [PROTOCOLS](#PROTOCOLS)

This functionality affects all supported protocols

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

```
int main(void)
{


  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();


  if(curl) {


    CURLcode result;


    double pretransfer;


    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");


    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);


    if(result == CURLE_OK) {


      result = curl_easy_getinfo(curl, CURLINFO_PRETRANSFER_TIME,


                                 &pretransfer);


      if(result == CURLE_OK) {


        printf("Time: %.1f", pretransfer);


      }


    }


    /* always cleanup */


    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);


  }
}
```

# [AVAILABILITY](#AVAILABILITY)

Added in curl 7.4.1

# [RETURN VALUE](#RETURN_VALUE)

[*curl\_easy\_getinfo(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_getinfo.3) returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE\_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see [*libcurl-errors(3)*](/man/os/curl/libcurl-errors.3).

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**CURLINFO\_CONNECT\_TIME\_T**(3)](/man/os/curl/CURLINFO_CONNECT_TIME_T.3), [**CURLINFO\_PRETRANSFER\_TIME\_T**(3)](/man/os/curl/CURLINFO_PRETRANSFER_TIME_T.3), [**curl\_easy\_getinfo**(3)](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_getinfo.3), [**curl\_easy\_setopt**(3)](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_setopt.3)

2026-10-31 libcurl

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Document: CURLINFO_PRETRANSFER_TIME(3) from curl 8.23.0-r3 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/curl/curl.git