HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) methods, also known as HTTP verbs, are actions that indicate the desired action to be performed on a resource identified by a given URI (Uniform Resource Identifier). These methods are used in communication between a client and a server. Here are the common HTTP methods and their typical uses:
GET: This method requests data from a specified resource. It should only retrieve data and should not have any other effect. GET requests can be cached and remain in the browser history. They can be bookmarked and shared. GET requests should not be used for operations that cause side effects such as updating or deleting data.
POST: This method submits data to be processed to a specified resource. It can also be used to upload a file to a server. POST requests are not cached and do not remain in the browser history. They cannot be bookmarked or shared. POST requests are typically used when you're submitting form data, uploading files, or performing operations that change state on the server.
PUT: This method replaces all current representations of the target resource with the request payload. If the resource does not exist, the server may create it. PUT requests are idempotent, meaning that making multiple identical requests should have the same effect as making a single request. PUT is often used for updating existing resources with new data.
DELETE: This method deletes the specified resource. Like PUT, DELETE requests are also idempotent. DELETE requests are used to remove resources from the server.
PATCH: This method is used to apply partial modifications to a resource. It is typically used when you want to apply partial updates to a resource instead of replacing the entire resource as in the case of PUT. PATCH requests are not as widely used as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, but they can be useful when you want to update only certain fields of a resource.
HEAD: This method asks for a response identical to that of a GET request, but without the response body. It's used to obtain metadata about the resource without transferring the entire content.
OPTIONS: This method is used to describe the communication options for the target resource. It specifies what HTTP methods are supported by the server for a particular resource.
TRACE: This method echoes the received request so that a client can see what (if any) changes or additions have been made by intermediate servers.
These are the most common HTTP methods and their typical uses. The choice of method depends on the desired action and the requirements of the application.
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