🔁HTTP Methods Reference
Summary of HTTP method meanings, usage, and idempotency. Useful for RESTful API design, backend learning, interview prep, and API documentation.
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How to use
- 1Click a method to see details.
- 2Check usage examples and idempotency info.
FAQ
What's idempotency?+
Multiple executions produce the same server state. GET, PUT, DELETE are idempotent; POST is not. Repeating a POST creates multiple resources.
PUT vs PATCH?+
PUT replaces the whole resource; PATCH applies partial updates. PUT is idempotent; PATCH may or may not be.
POST or PUT?+
If the client picks the resource ID, use PUT. If the server picks it, use POST. A common point of confusion in REST design.
Should DELETE have a body?+
204 No Content is common per standard. Some APIs return the deleted resource with a 200.
When is OPTIONS used?+
Auto-used in CORS preflight. Rarely called directly but useful for discovering allowed methods.