HTTP BEGINNERHTTP Methods
Complete guide to HTTP methods (verbs) including GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, and their properties
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Table of Contents
CRUD Methods
GET - Retrieve Resource
javascript
✅ Safe - doesn't modify data
💡 Use query params for filtering
🔍 Cacheable by default
POST - Create Resource
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🆕 Creates new resources
⚠️ Not idempotent - multiple calls create multiple resources
📍 Should return 201 with Location header
PUT - Update/Replace Resource
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🔄 Replaces entire resource
✅ Idempotent - same request produces same result
📝 Requires complete resource representation
PATCH - Partial Update
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🔧 Updates only specified fields
💡 More efficient than PUT for small changes
⚠️ Can be idempotent depending on implementation
DELETE - Remove Resource
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🗑️ Removes resources permanently
✅ Idempotent - deleting twice has same effect
💡 Usually returns 204 No Content
Other HTTP Methods
HEAD - Get Headers Only
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📋 Same as GET but no body
💡 Useful for checking existence
⚡ Saves bandwidth
OPTIONS - Get Allowed Methods
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🔍 Discovers API capabilities
✈️ Used for CORS preflight
📝 Returns Allow header
CONNECT & TRACE
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🚇 CONNECT: For proxy tunneling
🔍 TRACE: Debugging (security risk)
⚠️ Usually disabled in production
Method Properties
Safety & Idempotency
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🛡️ Safe = no side effects
🔄 Idempotent = same result on retry
💡 Important for caching and retry logic