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@dehowell
Created March 23, 2011 22:49
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Python function to test if a file at a URL exists.
import urllib2
def file_exists(location):
request = urllib2.Request(location)
request.get_method = lambda : 'HEAD'
try:
response = urllib2.urlopen(request)
return True
except urllib2.HTTPError:
return False
@cbdelavenne
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I rewrote this function for Python 3:

import urllib.request

def url_is_alive(url):
    """
    Checks that a given URL is reachable.
    :param url: A URL
    :rtype: bool
    """
    request = urllib.request.Request(url)
    request.get_method = lambda: 'HEAD'

    try:
        urllib.request.urlopen(request)
        return True
    except urllib.request.HTTPError:
        return False

For it to be compatible in both Python 2 and 3, I think you could just import urllib from six: from six.moves import urllib

@Magalame
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Thank you very much for porting it

@ahiliation
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@pohvak
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pohvak commented Jul 3, 2018

im testing this with the file at http://refriauto.com.mx/2015/img/Articulos/b613ae3efdf96ddd7e1a01a11ab0c3112513fd93.jpg
it returns me True, but the file doesn't exist, I delete it, what I am doing wrong?

captura de pantalla 2018-07-03 a la s 12 00 05

captura de pantalla 2018-07-03 a la s 11 58 11

captura de pantalla 2018-07-03 a la s 11 57 59

@dsmurf
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dsmurf commented Sep 21, 2018

I get no return. i use the python3 script. i did url = https://some.url.file.zip but get neither True nor False

I rewrote this function for Python 3:

import urllib.request

def url_is_alive(url):
    """
    Checks that a given URL is reachable.
    :param url: A URL
    :rtype: bool
    """
    request = urllib.request.Request(url)
    request.get_method = lambda: 'HEAD'

    try:
        urllib.request.urlopen(request)
        return True
    except urllib.request.HTTPError:
        return False

For it to be compatible in both Python 2 and 3, I think you could just import urllib from six: from six.moves import urllib

@nahidalam
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I rewrote this function for Python 3:

import urllib.request

def url_is_alive(url):
    """
    Checks that a given URL is reachable.
    :param url: A URL
    :rtype: bool
    """
    request = urllib.request.Request(url)
    request.get_method = lambda: 'HEAD'

    try:
        urllib.request.urlopen(request)
        return True
    except urllib.request.HTTPError:
        return False

For it to be compatible in both Python 2 and 3, I think you could just import urllib from six: from six.moves import urllib

tried with url https://images.lululemon.com/is/image/lululemon/LW9BAWR_0919_1

The program hangs and operation timed out

@loethen
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loethen commented Dec 25, 2020

hi guys, i rewrote this function

`def url_is_alive(url):
"""
Checks that a given URL is reachable.
:param url: A URL
:rtype: bool
"""

try:
    response = urllib.request.urlopen(url)
    status_code = response.getcode()
    if status_code == 200:
        return True
    else:
        return False
except urllib.request.HTTPError:
    return False

`

@glenn-jocher
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glenn-jocher commented May 12, 2022

Updated version I wrote:

def is_urlfile(url):
    # Check if online file exists
    try:
        r = urllib.request.urlopen(url)  # response
        return r.getcode() == 200
    except urllib.request.HTTPError:
        return False

@meryemCH
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Hello ,
i wanna fetch file in server with authentication,i try this :

values = {"username": "user", "password": "password"} try: r = urllib.request.urlopen(url, values) # response return r.getcode() == 200 except urllib.request.HTTPError: return False

but thasnt work, can u help me please

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