What is the difference in behavior and purpose of HTTP GET and POST methods from the user's perspective?

The HTTP GET method is used to request data from a server. It is safe and idempotent, meaning it does not change the server's state and repeated requests yield the same result. Usually, GET requests are visible in the URL (parameters are passed in the query string), which is convenient for bookmarks and caching.

The POST method is intended for sending data to the server, for example, when creating or updating a resource. POST requests are not idempotent and can change the server's state. Data is sent in the request body and not displayed in the URL, which enhances the security of transmitting sensitive information.

For the user, this means that GET requests are typically used to retrieve information without side effects, while POST is used for submitting forms, uploading data, or performing actions that change the application's state.