HTTP Method

TL;DR: The action you want to perform on a resource (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE). Essential for building predictable, RESTful APIs that clients understand.

An HTTP method (also called a verb) is the action you want to perform on a resource. It tells the server what you want to do - retrieve data, create something new, update existing content, or delete a resource.

Think of HTTP methods like verbs in a sentence - they describe the action. The URL is the noun (what you’re acting on), and the method is the verb (what you’re doing to it).

The most common HTTP methods are:

• GET: Retrieve data (like viewing a webpage)
• POST: Create new data (like submitting a form)
• PUT: Replace existing data completely (like updating a profile)
• PATCH: Update part of existing data (like changing just your email)
• DELETE: Remove data (like deleting a post)

HTTP methods have important characteristics:

• Safe methods: Don’t change server state (GET, HEAD, OPTIONS)
• Idempotent methods: Same request multiple times = same result (GET, PUT, DELETE)
• Cacheable methods: Responses can be stored and reused (GET, HEAD)

Choosing the right method is crucial for building predictable, RESTful APIs. Each method has specific semantics that clients and servers understand.

Examples:

• GET /users/42: Retrieve information about user 42
• POST /users: Create a new user
• PUT /users/42: Replace all data for user 42
• PATCH /users/42: Update specific fields for user 42
• DELETE /users/42: Remove user 42

Related terms: HTTP Request, HTTP Response, Idempotent