Can data be deleted using the HTTP GET method?

According to the HTTP standard, the GET method is intended for retrieving data and should not change the server's state. Deleting data using GET is not recommended and contradicts REST principles and security.

The DELETE method is used for deleting data, explicitly indicating a delete operation.

Using GET for deletion can lead to unintended consequences, such as a link with a GET request being indexed by a search engine or cached by a browser.

In summary:

• Deleting via GET is bad practice and violates standards.
• Use the DELETE method or POST with appropriate logic for deletion.

Example of a correct delete request:

DELETE /api/items/123 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

Therefore, data should not be deleted via GET.