What is a safe method?

A safe method in the context of HTTP is a method that does not change the state of the server when executed. It is intended for retrieving information and should not have side effects on the server.

Safe methods include:

• GET: Requests a representation of the specified resource.
• HEAD: Requests the headers that would be returned by a GET method, but without the response body.
• OPTIONS: Requests information about the HTTP methods and parameters available for communication with the target resource.
• TRACE: Performs a remote test of the path to the target resource.

Using safe methods allows clients to cache responses, repeat requests safely, and use them in prefetching, as these actions will not lead to unwanted changes on the server.