Web & APIsBeginner
HTTP Methods
PronunciationAY-TCH TEE-PEE METH-uhds
Definition
HTTP Methods are standard verbs like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE that tell a server what action to perform on a resource. They form the foundation of how clients and servers communicate in web applications and APIs.
Where you hear it
- In API documentation - During backend development - When debugging network requests in the browser
Examples
Use a
GETrequest to retrieve user profile data from the server.Submit a
POSTrequest with the form data to create a new account.Send a
DELETErequest to remove an item from the shopping cart.
Common mistake
Using a GET request to send sensitive data or modify server state, which is insecure and violates HTTP standards because GET requests should be safe and idempotent.