ESP8266 - HTTP Request
This tutorial instructs you how to use ESP8266 to make HTTP request to web server, API, or Web service. In detail, You will learn:
- How to use ESP8266 to make HTTP request (GET and POST)
- How to include the sensor's data into HTTP request
Hardware Preparation
Or you can buy the following kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays) | |
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Disclosure: Some of the links provided in this section are Amazon affiliate links. We may receive a commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables .
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables .
Basic Concepts of Web Client and Web Server
There are some basic concepts of web such as: web address (URL), hostname, pathname, query string, HTTP Request... You can learn detailed about them in HTTP tutorial
How to Make an HTTP Request
- Include libraries
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <HTTPClient.h>
- Declare WiFi SSID and password
const char WIFI_SSID[] = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char WIFI_PASSWORD[] = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
- Declare hostname, pathname, query string
String HOST_NAME = "http://YOUR_DOMAIN.com"; // CHANGE IT
String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino"; // CHANGE IT
//String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino.php"; // CHANGE IT
String queryString = "temperature=26&humidity=70"; // OPTIONAL
- Declare a HTTP client object
HTTPClient http;
- If connected to server, and send HTTP request. For example, HTTP GET
http.begin(HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME); //HTTP
int httpCode = http.GET();
- Read the response data from web server
// httpCode will be negative on error
if (httpCode > 0) {
// file found at server
if (httpCode == HTTP_CODE_OK) {
String payload = http.getString();
Serial.println(payload);
} else {
// HTTP header has been send and Server response header has been handled
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... code: %d\n", httpCode);
}
} else {
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... failed, error: %s\n", http.errorToString(httpCode).c_str());
}
http.end();
How to include data into HTTP request
We can send data to the web server by including data into HTTP request. The data format depends on HTTP request method:
- For HTTP GET request
- Data can be only sent in query string on the pathname.
- HTTP POST request
- Data can be sent NOT ONLY in query string format BUT ALSO any other format such as Json, XML, image ...
- Data is put in HTTP request body.
- Create a query string
- HTTP GET: add query string to pathname
- HTTP POST: put query string in HTTP body
- For both GET and POST, read the response data from web server
Let's learn how to send data in query string format for both HTTP GET and POST
int temp = // from sensor
int humi = // from sensor
String queryString = String("temperature=") + String(temp) + String("&humidity=") + String(humi);
http.begin(HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME + "?" + queryString);
http.addHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
int httpCode = http.GET();
http.begin(HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME);
http.addHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
int httpCode = http.POST(queryString);
// httpCode will be negative on error
if (httpCode > 0) {
// file found at server
if (httpCode == HTTP_CODE_OK) {
String payload = http.getString();
Serial.println(payload);
} else {
// HTTP header has been send and Server response header has been handled
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET/POST... code: %d\n", httpCode);
}
} else {
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET/POST... failed, error: %s\n", http.errorToString(httpCode).c_str());
}
http.end();
Complete ESP8266 Code for Making HTTP Request
The blow is the complete ESP8266 code for making HTTP GET/POST request
/*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/esp8266/esp8266-http-request
*/
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
const char WIFI_SSID[] = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char WIFI_PASSWORD[] = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
String HOST_NAME = "http://YOUR_DOMAIN.com"; // CHANGE IT
String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino.php"; // CHANGE IT
WiFiClient client; // Create a WiFiClient object
HTTPClient http;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD);
Serial.println("Connecting");
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("");
Serial.print("Connected to WiFi network with IP Address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
http.begin(client, HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME); //HTTP
int httpCode = http.GET();
// httpCode will be negative on error
if (httpCode > 0) {
// file found at server
if (httpCode == HTTP_CODE_OK) {
String payload = http.getString();
Serial.println(payload);
} else {
// HTTP header has been sent and Server response header has been handled
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... code: %d\n", httpCode);
}
} else {
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... failed, error: %s\n", http.errorToString(httpCode).c_str());
}
http.end();
}
void loop() {
// Your loop code here (if needed)
}
Complete ESP8266 Code for Making HTTP GET Request with data
/*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/esp8266/esp8266-http-request
*/
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
const char WIFI_SSID[] = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char WIFI_PASSWORD[] = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
String HOST_NAME = "http://YOUR_DOMAIN.com"; // CHANGE IT
String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino"; // CHANGE IT
//String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino.php"; // CHANGE IT
String queryString = "temperature=26&humidity=70";
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD);
Serial.println("Connecting");
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("");
Serial.print("Connected to WiFi network with IP Address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
WiFiClient client; // Create a WiFiClient object
HTTPClient http;
http.begin(client, HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME + "?" + queryString);
http.addHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
int httpCode = http.GET();
// httpCode will be negative on error
if (httpCode > 0) {
// file found at the server
if (httpCode == HTTP_CODE_OK) {
String payload = http.getString();
Serial.println(payload);
} else {
// HTTP header has been sent, and Server response header has been handled
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... code: %d\n", httpCode);
}
} else {
Serial.printf("[HTTP] GET... failed, error: %s\n", http.errorToString(httpCode).c_str());
}
http.end();
}
void loop() {
// Your loop code here (if needed)
}
Complete ESP8266 Code for Making HTTP POST Request with data
/*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This ESP8266 NodeMCU code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/esp8266/esp8266-http-request
*/
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
const char WIFI_SSID[] = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char WIFI_PASSWORD[] = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
String HOST_NAME = "http://YOUR_DOMAIN.com"; // CHANGE IT
String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino"; // CHANGE IT
//String PATH_NAME = "/products/arduino.php"; // CHANGE IT
String queryString = "temperature=26&humidity=70";
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD);
Serial.println("Connecting");
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("");
Serial.print("Connected to WiFi network with IP Address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
WiFiClient client; // Create a WiFiClient object
HTTPClient http;
http.begin(client, HOST_NAME + PATH_NAME);
http.addHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
int httpCode = http.POST(queryString);
// httpCode will be negative on error
if (httpCode > 0) {
// file found at server
if (httpCode == HTTP_CODE_OK) {
String payload = http.getString();
Serial.println(payload);
} else {
// HTTP header has been sent and Server response header has been handled
Serial.printf("[HTTP] POST... code: %d\n", httpCode);
}
} else {
Serial.printf("[HTTP] POST... failed, error: %s\n", http.errorToString(httpCode).c_str());
}
http.end();
}
void loop() {
// Your loop code here (if needed)
}