In what situations is it preferable to use POST, PUT, and PATCH methods when working with REST API?
sobes.tech AI
Answer from AI
The POST, PUT, and PATCH methods in REST API are used for different resource modification scenarios:
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POST is used to create a new resource. It is usually sent to a collection, and the server creates a new item with a unique identifier. POST is not idempotent — repeated requests can create duplicates.
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PUT is used for full update of an existing resource or creation of a resource at a known URI. PUT is idempotent — repeated requests with the same data will not change the result.
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PATCH is used for partial update of a resource, when only some fields need to be changed. It is also idempotent, but depends on the implementation.
Example:
- Create a new user: POST /users
- Fully update user with id=1: PUT /users/1
- Partially update email of user with id=1: PATCH /users/1
The choice of method depends on the task: creation — POST, full update — PUT, partial update — PATCH.