How to download a file over HTTP using Python

Question

I have a small utility that I use to download a MP3 from a website on a schedule and then builds/updates a podcast XML file which I've obviously added to iTunes.

The text processing that creates/updates the XML file is written in Python. I use wget inside a Windows .bat file to download the actual MP3 however. I would prefer to have the entire utility written in Python though.

So, how do I download the file using Python?

Answer 1

In Python 2, use urllib2 which comes with the standard library.

import urllib2
response = urllib2.urlopen('http://www.example.com/')
html = response.read()
This is the most basic way to use the library, minus any error handling. You can also do more complex stuff such as changing headers.