What is the difference between the contents and usage of GET and POST methods in HTTP requests?

GET and POST methods are two main types of HTTP requests, distinguished by how they transmit data and their purpose.

• GET is used to request data from a server. Parameters are passed in the URL after the question mark (query string). This makes GET requests convenient for retrieving information but limits the amount of data transmitted and is not suitable for transmitting confidential information, as parameters are visible in the URL.

• POST is used to send data to the server, for example, when submitting a form. Data is transmitted in the request body, allowing larger volumes of information to be sent and providing more security for data transmission.

Example of a GET request:

GET /search?q=python HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

Example of a POST request:

POST /submit HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

username=user&password=1234

In Python, the requests library is often used to send GET and POST requests:

import requests

# GET request
response = requests.get('https://example.com/api/data', params={'key': 'value'})
print(response.text)

# POST request
response = requests.post('https://example.com/api/submit', data={'username': 'user', 'password': '1234'})
print(response.text)