HTTP Methods

An HTTP method is a way for a client (usually a web browser or API client) to communicate with a server using the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

An HTTP method (also called an HTTP verb) defines the action that a client wants to perform on a resource identified by a URL when making an HTTP request. HTTP methods define the type of action the client wants to perform on a resource, such as retrieving, creating, updating, or deleting data.

These methods are part of the HTTP protocol, which is the foundation of data communication on the web. These methods are crucial for REST APIs and web development.

The most common HTTP Methods are as follows:

• GET
• POST
• PUT
• DELETE

GET Method

Purpose: Retrieves data from a server without altering it.

Use Case: Fetching user details, product lists, or blog posts.

Characteristics:

• Non-destructive (read-only).
• Can be cached by browsers.
• Query parameters are appended to the URL.

Example:

API Endpoint: https://restapi.example.com/users
Result: Returns a list of users.

In Postman tool, you can select the HTTP method from the drop-down menu.

 

POST Method

Purpose: Sends data to the server to create a new resource.

Use Case: Creating a new user account, submitting a form, or uploading a file.

Characteristics:

• Data is sent in the request body.
• Typically results in a change on the server.
• Not idempotent (sending the same request multiple times creates multiple resources).

Example:

API Endpoint: https://restapi.example.com/users
Request Body:
{
 "name": "John Doe",
 "email": "[email protected]"
}
Result: A new user is created.

PUT Method

Purpose: Updates an existing resource or creates one if it does not exist.

Use Case: Updating user information or replacing an existing resource.

Characteristics:

• Data is sent in the request body.
• Idempotent (sending the same request multiple times results in the same state).

Example:

API Endpoint: https://restapi.example.com/users/1
Request Body:
{
 "name": "John Updated",
 "email": "[email protected]"
}
Result: Updates the user with ID 1.

DELETE Method

Purpose: Removes a resource from the server.

Use Case: Deleting a user account or a specific record.

Characteristics:

• Non-reversible.
• Typically idempotent (multiple delete requests for the same resource have the same effect).

Example:

API Endpoint: https://restapi.example.com/users/1
Result: Deletes the user with ID 1.

HTTP Methods Comparison

Method	Purpose	Idempotent	Data Location	Use Case
GET	Retrieve data	Yes	URL/Query params	Fetching data
POST	Create new resource	No	Request body	Creating new records
PUT	Update or replace resource	Yes	Request body	Updating existing records
DELETE	Remove resource	Yes	URL/Query params	Deleting data