A path request method, wherein the method comprises: receiving, by a stateful path computation element, Stateful PCE, a path computation request message sent by a path computation client, PCC, wherein the path computation request message comprises first attribute information, and the first attribute information is used to designate an acquisition manner of a path requested by the PCC; acquiring, by the Stateful PCE, information of a path that conforms to a request of the PCC according to the first attribute information by selecting to search a database for an already-established path or to compute a to-be-newly-established path; and sending a path computation reply message to the PCC, wherein the path computation reply message comprises the information of the path that conforms to the request of the PCC; wherein the acquisition manner of the path requested by the PCC is: a manner of only accepting an already-established path in the database, or a manner of preferably accepting the already-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting an already-established path in the database, and when there isn't an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC, the PCC accepts a to-be-newly-established path acquired by the Stateful PCE through computation, or a manner of only accepting a to-be-newly-established path, or a manner of preferably accepting the to-be-newly-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting a to-be-newly-established path computed by the Stateful PCE according to the request of the PCC, when the computing by the Stateful PCE fails, an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC is accepted. receiving, by a stateful path computation element, Stateful PCE, a path computation request message sent by a path computation client, PCC, wherein the path computation request message comprises first attribute information, and the first attribute information is used to designate an acquisition manner of a path requested by the PCC; acquiring, by the Stateful PCE, information of a path that conforms to a request of the PCC according to the first attribute information by selecting to search a database for an already-established path or to compute a to-be-newly-established path; and sending a path computation reply message to the PCC, wherein the path computation reply message comprises the information of the path that conforms to the request of the PCC; wherein the acquisition manner of the path requested by the PCC is: a manner of only accepting an already-established path in the database, or a manner of preferably accepting the already-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting an already-established path in the database, and when there isn't an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC, the PCC accepts a to-be-newly-established path acquired by the Stateful PCE through computation, or a manner of only accepting a to-be-newly-established path, or a manner of preferably accepting the to-be-newly-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting a to-be-newly-established path computed by the Stateful PCE according to the request of the PCC, when the computing by the Stateful PCE fails, an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC is accepted. a manner of only accepting an already-established path in the database, or a manner of preferably accepting the already-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting an already-established path in the database, and when there isn't an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC, the PCC accepts a to-be-newly-established path acquired by the Stateful PCE through computation, or a manner of only accepting a to-be-newly-established path, or a manner of preferably accepting the to-be-newly-established path, wherein the PCC gives priority to accepting a to-be-newly-established path computed by the Stateful PCE according to the request of the PCC, when the computing by the Stateful PCE fails, an already-established path that conforms to the request of the PCC is accepted.