What is the purpose of the GET method? Can a GET request modify data?

The GET method is used to request data from a server without changing the state of the resource. It is intended for retrieving information and should be idempotent and safe, meaning repeated requests should not modify data.

GET requests should not alter the state of data on the server. If a request changes data, it violates REST and HTTP principles, and such operations should use POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE methods.