---
name: "CURLOPT_IGNORE_CONTENT_LENGTH"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "curl"
version: "166.0.0.0.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_IGNORE_CONTENT_LENGTH"
---

# CURLOPT\_IGNORE\_CONTENT\_LENGTH(3)

ignore content length

## NAME

CURLOPT\_IGNORE\_CONTENT\_LENGTH - ignore content length

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_IGNORE_CONTENT_LENGTH,
                          long ignore);
```

## DESCRIPTION

If *ignore* is set to 1L, ignore the Content-Length header in the HTTP response and ignore asking for or relying on it for FTP transfers.

This is useful for doing HTTP transfers with ancient web servers which report incorrect content length for files over 2 gigabytes. If this option is used, curl cannot accurately report progress, and it instead stops the download when the server ends the connection.

It is also useful with FTP when for example the file is growing while the transfer is in progress which otherwise unconditionally causes libcurl to report error.

Only use this option if strictly necessary.

## DEFAULT

0

## PROTOCOLS

HTTP

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");
    /* we know the server is silly, ignore content-length */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_IGNORE_CONTENT_LENGTH, 1L);
    curl_easy_perform(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in 7.14.1. Support for FTP added in 7.46.0. This option is not working for HTTP when libcurl is built to use the hyper backend.

## RETURN VALUE

Returns CURLE\_OK if the option is supported, and CURLE\_UNKNOWN\_OPTION if not.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_HTTP\_VERSION**(3)](/CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE\_LARGE**(3)](/CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE/3.md)