How to make a HTTP request using Ruby on Rails?

Net::HTTP is built into Ruby, but let's face it, often it's easier not to use its cumbersome 1980s style and try a higher level alternative:

• HTTP Gem
• HTTParty
• RestClient
• Excon
• Feedjira (RSS only)

OpenURI is the best; it's as simple as

require 'open-uri'
response = open('http://example.com').read

You can use Ruby's Net::HTTP class:

require 'net/http'

url = URI.parse('http://www.example.com/index.html')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(url.to_s)
res = Net::HTTP.start(url.host, url.port) {|http|
  http.request(req)
}
puts res.body