HTTP Methods – A Complete Guide for Developers

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the backbone of communication on the World Wide Web. It defines how requests and responses are transmitted between clients (such as browsers) and servers. HTTP methods are the verbs used to describe the action to be performed on a given resource. Understanding them in detail is essential for building secure, efficient, and scalable web applications.

What Are HTTP Methods?

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) methods define the action a client (like your browser or an app) wants to perform on a resource hosted on a server. Think of them as instructions you send over the internet telling the server exactly what to do — whether it’s to get some data, send new data, or delete something.

Why Are HTTP Methods Important in Web Development?

Without HTTP methods, every request would be a confusing mess. They make communication between client and server precise and predictable, which is especially important when building APIs, websites, and apps.

Core HTTP Methods Explained

1. GET Method – Retrieving Data

Purpose of GET

The GET method is used to retrieve data from the server without making any changes. It’s like reading a book without writing in it.

When to Use GET

• Fetching web pages
• Retrieving API data
• Searching without altering the server

Example of GET Request

GET /products HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

2. POST Method – Submitting Data

Purpose of POST

POST is for creating new resources. It sends data to the server to be processed, stored, or acted upon.

When to Use POST

• Submitting forms
• Uploading files
• Creating a new database entry

Example of POST Request

POST /products HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Laptop",
  "price": 1200
}

3. PUT Method – Updating Resources Completely

Purpose of PUT

PUT replaces an existing resource entirely or creates it if it doesn’t exist.

When to Use PUT

• Updating a user profile
• Replacing an existing product entry

Example of PUT Request

PUT /products/5 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Updated Laptop",
  "price": 1250
}

4. PATCH Method – Updating Resources Partially

Difference Between PUT and PATCH

While PUT replaces the entire resource, PATCH updates only specific fields.

Example of PATCH Request

PATCH /products/5 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "price": 1300
}

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5. DELETE Method – Removing Resources

Purpose of DELETE

As the name suggests, it deletes the specified resource.

Example of DELETE Request

DELETE /products/5 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

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6. HEAD Method – Retrieving Headers Only

Purpose of Head Method

HEAD is similar to GET but retrieves only HTTP headers, not the body.

When to use Head Method

• Used to check if a resource exists.
• Helpful for testing links, validating caches, or checking content length.
• Saves bandwidth when body data is unnecessary.

Example of HEAD Method

HEAD /products/123 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

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7. OPTIONS Method – Discovering Server Capabilities

OPTIONS is used to determine which HTTP methods are supported for a given resource.

When to use Options Method

• Often used in CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) preflight requests.
• Returns allowed methods in the Allow header.

Example of OPTIONS Method

OPTIONS /products HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

Response:

Allow: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS

8. CONNECT Method – Establishing a Tunnel

CONNECT is primarily used to establish a network tunnel for secure communication, often in HTTPS through a proxy.

Example of Connect Method

CONNECT www.example.com:443 HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com

Idempotency and Safety in HTTP Methods

Idempotent Methods:

• GET, PUT, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
• Multiple identical requests have the same effect.

Safe Methods:

• GET, HEAD, OPTIONS
• Do not alter server state.

Understanding these classifications helps in designing APIs that are reliable and predictable.

Status Codes and HTTP Methods

Each HTTP method typically responds with specific HTTP status codes:

Method	Common Status Codes
GET	200 OK, 404 Not Found
POST	201 Created, 400 Bad Request
PUT	200 OK, 201 Created, 204 No Content
PATCH	200 OK, 204 No Content
DELETE	200 OK, 204 No Content, 404 Not Found
HEAD	200 OK, 404 Not Found
OPTIONS	200 OK
CONNECT	200 OK

Best Practices for Using HTTP Methods

1. Choose the Correct Method – Avoid using GET for data modification.
2. Follow REST Principles – Use methods consistently with REST conventions.
3. Leverage Idempotency – Ensure PUT and DELETE operations can be retried safely.
4. Secure Sensitive Data – Use HTTPS to protect POST, PUT, and PATCH requests.
5. Use Appropriate Status Codes – Match server responses to HTTP standards.
6. Document Your API – Clearly specify supported methods and expected responses.