# HTTP Method

URL: https://softwaredictionary.org/terms/http-method
Category: Backend & APIs
Last updated: 2026-09-30
In Turkish: HTTP Metodu

In short: An HTTP method is the verb in an HTTP request, such as GET, POST, PUT, PATCH or DELETE, that tells the server what action to perform on the requested resource.

## What are HTTP methods?

Every HTTP request starts with a method, a short word that states the client's intent, followed by the URL of a resource. `GET /users/42` asks to read a user, while `DELETE /users/42` asks to remove it. The method lets servers, caches, proxies, and browsers understand what a request will do without looking at its contents.

The five methods you'll use most are `GET`, which retrieves data and must not change anything; `POST`, which submits data to create a resource or trigger an action; `PUT`, which replaces a resource entirely with the data sent; `PATCH`, which applies a partial update; and `DELETE`, which removes a resource. Less visible ones include `HEAD`, which works like `GET` but returns only the headers, and `OPTIONS`, which asks what a server allows and is sent by browsers as a CORS preflight request. In REST APIs, these methods line up with the CRUD operations.

Methods are classified by two properties. A safe method (`GET`, `HEAD`, `OPTIONS`) doesn't change server state, which is why browsers may prefetch links and caches may store the responses. An idempotent method (the safe ones plus `PUT` and `DELETE`) has the same effect whether it is sent once or several times, so a client can retry it after a timeout, while `POST` and `PATCH` are not guaranteed to be idempotent and can create duplicates when retried. Think of the method as the verb of a sentence and the URL as its object: 'get this user', 'delete that order'.

HTTP methods are sometimes confused with HTTP status codes. The method is chosen by the client in the request, while a status code such as `200` or `404` is chosen by the server in the response. A common mistake is using `GET` for actions that change data, like `GET /delete-account`, which crawlers, link previews, or prefetching can trigger by accident. Data in a `GET` request also travels in the URL's query string, where it gets logged and cached, so sensitive data belongs in the body of a `POST`.

## Key takeaways

- The method is the verb of an HTTP request, such as `GET`, `POST`, `PUT`, `PATCH`, or `DELETE`.
- `GET` reads, `POST` creates or triggers actions, `PUT` replaces, `PATCH` partially updates, and `DELETE` removes.
- Safe methods don't change server state; idempotent methods can be repeated safely.
- `OPTIONS` is used for CORS preflight requests, and `HEAD` fetches only headers.
- Never use `GET` for actions that change data.

## Example: Calling an API with different HTTP methods

```bash
# Read a resource
curl https://api.example.com/tasks/7

# Create a resource (the server usually replies 201 Created)
curl -X POST https://api.example.com/tasks \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"title": "Write report"}'

# Partially update it, then delete it
curl -X PATCH https://api.example.com/tasks/7 \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"done": true}'
curl -X DELETE https://api.example.com/tasks/7

# Ask only for the headers (a HEAD request)
curl -I https://api.example.com/tasks/7
```

## Frequently asked questions

**How many HTTP methods are there?**

The core HTTP standard, RFC 9110, defines eight: `GET`, `HEAD`, `POST`, `PUT`, `DELETE`, `CONNECT`, `OPTIONS`, and `TRACE`, and `PATCH` is defined in a separate RFC. Most APIs use only five of them.

**Can a GET request have a body?**

The HTTP standard gives a body in a `GET` request no defined meaning, and many servers, proxies, and libraries ignore or reject it, so put `GET` parameters in the query string. For complex read queries, APIs often use `POST`, and a new `QUERY` method has been proposed for safe requests that need a body.

**Are HTTP methods case-sensitive?**

Yes. Method names are case-sensitive, and the standard ones are always written in uppercase, such as `GET` and `POST`.

---

Software Dictionary: https://softwaredictionary.org/ · https://softwaredictionary.org/llms.txt