🚀Top 7 HTTP Methods every developers must know!
Tags: webdev, programming, beginners, codenewbie
Published: 2024-02-05 15:01:27

I recently started my journey into backend development and have come across HTTP methods quite often. I did a study on it, and I am sharing all I have learnt so far.

## What is the HTTP
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundation of communication between clients and servers on the web. HTTP methods play a crucial role in defining how this communication occurs. Each method has a specific purpose and understanding their nuances is essential for effective web development.


## What are HTTP Methods? 
HTTP methods, which are also known as HTTP verbs, are responsible for defining the actions that can be performed on resources identified by Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs)

HTTP defines several methods, each serving a specific purpose in handling resource requests and responses. 

## What are the most common HTTP methods? 
The most common HTTP methods include: **GET**, **POST**, **PUT**, **DELETE**, **HEAD**, **OPTIONS**, **CONNECT**, and **TRACE**. 
The GET method retrieves information from the server, while the POST method sends data to the server to create, update, or delete resources. 
The PUT method is used to update a resource, and the DELETE method is used to delete a resource. 
The HEAD method retrieves only the header information of a resource, while the OPTIONS method retrieves the available methods that can be used on a resource. 
The CONNECT method establishes a network connection, and the TRACE method echoes the received request back to the client.


![HTTP methods](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4pveil3yadwqg7q5cjtq.png)

As web technologies evolve, new methods may be introduced, but the core principles of HTTP methods will continue to be a fundamental aspect of the web communication protocol. These principles include **idempotency**, **safety**, and **cacheability**. 

##What is the meaning of idempotency? 
- Idempotency means that the same request can be made multiple times without causing any side effects. 

- Safety means that a request will not modify the state of the server. 

- Cacheability means that responses can be cached to improve performance.

## What is the HTTP GET method:

The `GET` method is one of the simplest and most commonly used HTTP methods. It is used to request data from a specified resource. `GET` requests are idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests should have the same effect as a single request. The data is included in the URL as parameters. Requests using GET should only retrieve data.

Example:

```http
GET /api/users?id=123
```

## What is the HTTP POST method:

`POST` is used to submit data to be processed to a specified resource. Unlike `GET`, `POST` requests do not append data to the URL; instead, they include the data in the request body. This makes it suitable for sending large amounts of data or sensitive information. The `POST` method is used when you want to send some data to the server, for example, file update, form data, etc. The `POST` method often causes a change in state or side effects on the server.

Example:
```http
POST /api/users
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john@example.com"
}
```

## What is the HTTP PUT method:

`PUT` is used to update a resource on the server. It requires the client to send the entire updated resource representation. If the resource does not exist, `PUT` can create a new resource with the provided data. In RESTful web services, the HTTP method `PUT` is typically used for both creating new data and updating existing data.


Example:
```http
PUT /api/users/123
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Updated Name",
  "email": "updated@example.com"
}
```

## What is the HTTP DELETE method:

`DELETE` is used to remove a resource from the server. It is an idempotent method, meaning repeated DELETE requests will have the same effect as a single request.

Example:
```http
DELETE /api/users/123
```

## What is the HEAD HTTP method:

The `HEAD` method is similar to `GET`, but it retrieves only the headers of a resource without the actual data. It is useful when you need to check the headers before downloading the entire resource.

Example:
```http
HEAD /api/users/123
```

##What is the OPTIONS HTTP method:

The OPTIONS method is used to determine the communication options available for a given resource. It helps the client understand which HTTP methods and headers are supported.

Example:
```http
OPTIONS /api/users
```

##What is the PATCH HTTP method:

PATCH is used to apply partial modifications to a resource. It is more efficient than PUT when updating only specific fields of a resource.

Example:
```http
PATCH /api/users/123
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "email": "newemail@example.com"
}
```

## Conclusion

HTTP methods play a crucial role in defining how clients and servers interact on the web. Each method has a specific purpose, and understanding their nuances is essential for effective web development. As web technologies evolve, new methods may be introduced, but the core principles of HTTP methods will continue to be a fundamental aspect of the web communication protocol.

## References
[HTTP Methods](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fjavarevisited.blogspot.com%2F2016%2F04%2Fwhat-is-purpose-of-http-request-types-in-RESTful-web-service.html&psig=AOvVaw2lu75_1vfptz4ytPnUWAZj&ust=1707229830639000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBUQjhxqFwoTCOiLs_O0lIQDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE)
[Cover Image](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfbLdlYpxMq4&psig=AOvVaw0QnY-_KKZGjtZEH6179UoW&ust=1707230777803000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBUQjhxqFwoTCPDvi7a4lIQDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAG)
[Further Study 1](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods)
[Further study 2](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/http/http_methods.htm)

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