# HTTP Methods in an API

HTTP methods, also known as verbs, define the type of action to be performed on a given resource. Each method provides a different type of functionality. Here are the commonly used HTTP methods in an API:

## GET

**Description:** The GET method is used to retrieve data from a server.

| Property | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| **Use Case** | Fetching data, such as a list of users or a specific user profile. |
| **Idempotent** | Yes |
| **Safe** | Yes |


## POST

**Description:** The POST method is used to send data to a server to create a new resource.

| Property | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| **Use Case** | Creating a new user or submitting a form. |
| **Idempotent** | No |
| **Safe** | No |


## PUT

**Description:** The PUT method is used to update an existing resource or create a new resource if it doesn't exist.

| Property | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| **Use Case** | Updating user details or replacing a specific resource. |
| **Idempotent** | Yes |
| **Safe** | No |


## PATCH

**Description:** The PATCH method is used to apply partial modifications to a resource.

| Property | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| **Use Case** | Updating specific fields of a user profile. |
| **Idempotent** | Yes |
| **Safe** | No |


## DELETE

**Description:** The DELETE method is used to remove a specified resource from a server.

| Property | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| **Use Case** | Deleting a user or removing a specific item. |
| **Idempotent** | Yes |
| **Safe** | No |


## What is Idempotent?

An HTTP method is idempotent if multiple identical requests have the same effect as a single request. In other words, making the same request multiple times won't change the outcome after the initial application:

**Idempotent Methods:** GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE

**Non-Idempotent Method:** POST (since making multiple POST requests will create multiple resources)

## What is Safe?

An HTTP method is safe if it doesn't alter the state of the server. Safe methods are typically used for retrieving data rather than modifying it:

**Safe Method:** GET (as it only retrieves data without changing the server state)

**Non-Safe Methods:** POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE (as they alter the state by creating, updating, or deleting resources)