1. GET
- Retrieves data from a specified resource.
- Used for reading data.
- Example:
curl -X GET https://api.example.com/data
2. POST
- Submits data to be processed to a specified resource.
- Often used for creating new resources.
- Example:
curl -X POST -d '{"key":"value"}' https://api.example.com/data
3. PUT
- Updates a resource with the provided data.
- Used for replacing an existing resource.
- Example:
curl -X PUT -d '{"key":"new_value"}' https://api.example.com/data/1
4. DELETE
- Deletes a specified resource.
- Example:
curl -X DELETE https://api.example.com/data/1
5. PATCH
- Applies partial modifications to a resource.
- Example:
curl -X PATCH -d '{"key":"updated_value"}' https://api.example.com/data/1
6. HEAD
- Retrieves the headers of the response, without the body.
- Useful for checking metadata.
- Example:
curl -I https://api.example.com/data
7. OPTIONS
- Describes the communication options for the target resource.
- Used for CORS preflight requests.
- Example:
curl -X OPTIONS https://api.example.com/data
8. TRACE
- Performs a message loop-back test.
- Primarily used for debugging.
- Example:
curl -X TRACE https://api.example.com/data
9. CONNECT
- Establishes a tunnel to the server.
- Often used for SSL/TLS connections.
- Example:
curl -X CONNECT https://api.example.com/data
What Undercode Say
HTTP request methods are fundamental to web development and API interactions. Understanding these methods is crucial for developers working with RESTful APIs or building web applications. The GET method is the most commonly used, allowing you to retrieve data from a server. POST is essential for sending data, such as form submissions, while PUT and PATCH are used for updating resources. DELETE is straightforward, removing resources from the server. HEAD and OPTIONS are less commonly used but are invaluable for debugging and understanding server capabilities. TRACE and CONNECT are specialized methods, primarily used for debugging and secure connections, respectively.
In Linux, tools like `curl` and `wget` are indispensable for testing these methods. For example, `curl -X GET https://api.example.com/data` retrieves data, while `curl -X POST -d ‘{“key”:”value”}’ https://api.example.com/data` sends data. These commands are essential for debugging and interacting with APIs directly from the terminal. Additionally, understanding HTTP status codes (e.g., 200 for success, 404 for not found) is critical for effective debugging. For further reading, consider exploring Mozilla’s HTTP documentation or HTTP/1.1 RFC. Mastering these methods and tools will significantly enhance your ability to work with web technologies and APIs.
References:
Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI
