APIs use specific HTTP methods to communicate with the server. These methods define what type of operation you’re trying to perform.
The five most common HTTP methods are:
GET POST PUT PATCH DELETE
Let’s break them down:
GET – Fetch Data From Server
Purpose: Retrieve or read data from a server without modifying it.
📌 Example Use Case: When a user logs in, the frontend fetches their profile data.
// Example using Fetch API fetch(‘https://api.example.com/user/123’) .then(res => res.json()) .then(data => console.log(data));
Flow Diagram:
Client (Frontend) —> [GET Request] —> Server —> [Response: User Data] —> Client
POST – Send New Data to Server
Purpose: Used to send new data to the server to create a new resource.
📌 Example Use Case: User signs up → A new user record is created in the database.
fetch(‘https://api.example.com/signup’, {
method: ‘POST’,
headers: {
‘Content-Type’: ‘application/json’,
},
body: JSON.stringify({
name: ‘John Doe’,
email: ‘[email protected]’,
password: ‘123456’
}),
})
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(‘User created:’, data));
Flow Diagram:
Client (Signup Form) | |— POST: User Data —> Server (Database) | |— Response: Success Message —> Client
PUT & PATCH – Update Data on Server
Purpose: Both are used for updating existing data on the server.
✅ PUT:
-
Replaces the entire existing resource.
-
Requires all fields, even if only one changes.
fetch(‘https://api.example.com/user/123’, {
method: ‘PUT’,
headers: { ‘Content-Type’: ‘application/json’ },
body: JSON.stringify({
name: ‘Updated Name’,
email: ‘[email protected]’,
password: ‘newpass123’
})
});
PATCH:
-
Updates only specific fields (partial update).
-
More efficient if only one or two fields change.
fetch(‘https://api.example.com/user/123’, {
method: ‘PATCH’,
headers: { ‘Content-Type’: ‘application/json’ },
body: JSON.stringify({
email: ‘[email protected]’
})
});
Flow Diagram:
Client —> PATCH (only email) —> Server <— Response: Email Updated
DELETE – Remove Data from Server
Purpose: Used to delete a resource from the server.
📌 Example Use Case: A user deletes their account.
fetch(‘https://api.example.com/user/123’, {
method: ‘DELETE’
})
.then(res => console.log(‘User deleted’));
