HTTP Methods Reference

// HTTP methods (GET, POST, etc.) reference

GETSafeIdempotent

Retrieve a representation of the specified resource. GET requests should only retrieve data and have no side effects.

Use cases:Fetching a web page, API data retrieval, loading images

POSTHas Body

Submit data to be processed by the specified resource. Often used to create new resources or trigger actions.

Use cases:Creating a new user, submitting a form, uploading a file

PUTIdempotentHas Body

Replace the entire target resource with the request payload. If the resource does not exist, it may be created.

Use cases:Updating a user profile (full replacement), uploading a file to a specific path

PATCHHas Body

Apply partial modifications to a resource. Unlike PUT, only the specified fields are updated.

Use cases:Updating a single field like email address, toggling a setting

DELETEIdempotent

Delete the specified resource.

Use cases:Removing a user account, deleting a blog post, clearing cache

HEADSafeIdempotent

Same as GET but returns only the response headers, not the body. Used to check resource existence or metadata.

Use cases:Checking if a URL exists, getting content length before download

OPTIONSSafeIdempotent

Describes the communication options for the target resource. Used in CORS preflight requests.

Use cases:CORS preflight checks, discovering supported methods for an API endpoint

TRACESafeIdempotent

Performs a message loop-back test along the path to the target resource. Used for debugging.

Use cases:Diagnosing proxy behavior, debugging request transformations

CONNECT

Establishes a tunnel to the server identified by the target resource. Used for HTTPS through HTTP proxies.

Use cases:Setting up SSL/TLS tunnels through proxies

#About HTTP Methods Reference

Free online HTTP methods reference. Browse all HTTP request methods including GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, and more with detailed descriptions and use cases. This tool runs entirely in your browser — your data is never sent to a server. Just paste your input, get instant results, and copy with one click. No sign-up or installation required.

#FAQ

What are the most common HTTP methods? ▾

The most common HTTP methods are GET (retrieve data), POST (submit data), PUT (replace a resource), PATCH (partially update a resource), and DELETE (remove a resource). HEAD and OPTIONS are also widely used.

What is the difference between PUT and PATCH? ▾

PUT replaces the entire resource with the provided data (full update), while PATCH applies partial modifications to the resource. PUT is idempotent and requires sending the complete resource representation.

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#Related

HTTP Status Codes Reference

Complete list of HTTP status codes with descriptions

HTTP Headers Reference

Searchable reference of HTTP headers

cURL to Code

Convert curl commands to code (JS fetch, Python requests, etc.)