HTTP Methods Explained: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE with Code Examples
Master HTTP methods for API development. Understand the difference between PUT and PATCH, safe vs idempotent operations, and real request examples.
The cornerstone of any RESTful http api example is the proper use of HTTP verbs. Using the right verb communicates exact intent to clients, intermediaries, proxies, and caching servers.
The Five Primary HTTP Methods
GET Safe & Idempotent
Retrieves data without modifying server state. GET requests must never have side effects. Responses are cacheable by browsers and CDNs.
POST Non-Idempotent
Creates a new subordinate resource. Calling POST five times creates five records unless idempotency keys are used.
PUT Full Replacement & Idempotent
Replaces the entire target resource with the uploaded payload. Omitted fields are overwritten or reset to default null values.
PATCH Partial Modification
Applies partial updates to a resource. Only the properties explicitly included in the request body are changed.
DELETE Idempotent Removal
Removes the specified resource. Subsequent calls targeting the deleted resource return 404 or 204.