--- title: "What are HTTP Methods? How many types?" description: "What are HTTP Methods? How many types?" author: "ICSM Computer" published: 2026-03-24 updated: 2026-03-24 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34481/what-are-http-methods-how-many-types category: "web api" tags: ["web api"] reading_time: 6 minutes --- # What are HTTP Methods? How many types? **HTTP Methods** are used in **Web API / Web Development** to tell the server what action we want to perform on a resource.\ When a client (browser, mobile app, API) sends a request to server, it uses an HTTP method like **GET, POST, PUT, DELETE** etc. HTTP works on **Request → Response** model. Example request: ```plaintext GET /api/users/10 ``` Here **GET** is HTTP Method. ## How many HTTP Methods are there? Mainly **9 HTTP Methods** are defined in HTTP standard, but commonly used are **5–7 methods**. | Method | Use | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | GET | Read | Get data from server | | POST | Create | Send new data | | PUT | Update | Update full data | | PATCH | Partial Update | Update some fields | | DELETE | Remove | Delete data | | HEAD | Header only | Get header only | | OPTIONS | Check methods | Check allowed methods | | TRACE | Debug | Loopback test | | CONNECT | Tunnel | Used for SSL | Most used methods: ```plaintext GET POST PUT PATCH DELETE ``` ## 1. GET Method Used to **read data** from server. Example: ```plaintext GET /api/users GET /api/users/5 ``` Rules: - Should not change data - Safe method - Used for fetch Example response: ```plaintext { "id": 5, "name": "John" } ``` ## 2. POST Method Used to **create new data**. Example: ```plaintext POST /api/users ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "John", "email": "john@mail.com" } ``` Use when: - Insert data - Submit form - Upload file ## 3. PUT Method Used to **update full data**. Example: ```plaintext PUT /api/users/5 ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "John Updated", "email": "john@mail.com" } ``` Rules: - Replace full object - Id required ## 4. PATCH Method Used to **update partial data**. Example: ```plaintext PATCH /api/users/5 ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "New Name" } ``` Use when: - Update only some fields - Faster than PUT ## 5. DELETE Method Used to **remove data**. Example: ```plaintext DELETE /api/users/5 ``` Use when: - Delete record - Remove resource Response: ```plaintext 200 OK ``` ## 6. HEAD Method Same as GET but returns **only header**. Example: ```plaintext HEAD /api/users ``` Use for: - Check API - Check size - Check status No body returned. ## 7. OPTIONS Method Used to check allowed methods. Example: ```plaintext OPTIONS /api/users ``` Response: ```plaintext GET, POST, PUT, DELETE ``` Used in: - CORS - API check - Browser request ## 8. TRACE Method Used for debugging. Example: ```plaintext TRACE /api/users ``` - Server returns same request. - Rarely used. ## 9. CONNECT Method Used for secure connection. Used in: - HTTPS - Proxy - SSL tunnel Example: ```plaintext CONNECT server.com:443 ``` Rare in normal API. ## Summary | Method | Use | | --- | --- | | GET | Read | | POST | Create | | PUT | Update full | | PATCH | Update partial | | DELETE | Remove | | HEAD | Header only | | OPTIONS | Check methods | | TRACE | Debug | | CONNECT | Secure tunnel | ## Interview Answer (Short) > HTTP methods are used to perform operations on server resources. Main HTTP methods are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS, TRACE, CONNECT. Most commonly used methods in Web API are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE. ## Answers ### Answer by ICSM Computer **HTTP Methods** are used in **Web API / Web Development** to tell the server what action we want to perform on a resource.\ When a client (browser, mobile app, API) sends a request to server, it uses an HTTP method like **GET, POST, PUT, DELETE** etc. HTTP works on **Request → Response** model. Example request: ```plaintext GET /api/users/10 ``` Here **GET** is HTTP Method. ## How many HTTP Methods are there? Mainly **9 HTTP Methods** are defined in HTTP standard, but commonly used are **5–7 methods**. | Method | Use | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | GET | Read | Get data from server | | POST | Create | Send new data | | PUT | Update | Update full data | | PATCH | Partial Update | Update some fields | | DELETE | Remove | Delete data | | HEAD | Header only | Get header only | | OPTIONS | Check methods | Check allowed methods | | TRACE | Debug | Loopback test | | CONNECT | Tunnel | Used for SSL | Most used methods: ```plaintext GET POST PUT PATCH DELETE ``` ## 1. GET Method Used to **read data** from server. Example: ```plaintext GET /api/users GET /api/users/5 ``` Rules: - Should not change data - Safe method - Used for fetch Example response: ```plaintext { "id": 5, "name": "John" } ``` ## 2. POST Method Used to **create new data**. Example: ```plaintext POST /api/users ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "John", "email": "john@mail.com" } ``` Use when: - Insert data - Submit form - Upload file ## 3. PUT Method Used to **update full data**. Example: ```plaintext PUT /api/users/5 ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "John Updated", "email": "john@mail.com" } ``` Rules: - Replace full object - Id required ## 4. PATCH Method Used to **update partial data**. Example: ```plaintext PATCH /api/users/5 ``` Body: ```plaintext { "name": "New Name" } ``` Use when: - Update only some fields - Faster than PUT ## 5. DELETE Method Used to **remove data**. Example: ```plaintext DELETE /api/users/5 ``` Use when: - Delete record - Remove resource Response: ```plaintext 200 OK ``` ## 6. HEAD Method Same as GET but returns **only header**. Example: ```plaintext HEAD /api/users ``` Use for: - Check API - Check size - Check status No body returned. ## 7. OPTIONS Method Used to check allowed methods. Example: ```plaintext OPTIONS /api/users ``` Response: ```plaintext GET, POST, PUT, DELETE ``` Used in: - CORS - API check - Browser request ## 8. TRACE Method Used for debugging. Example: ```plaintext TRACE /api/users ``` - Server returns same request. - Rarely used. ## 9. CONNECT Method Used for secure connection. Used in: - HTTPS - Proxy - SSL tunnel Example: ```plaintext CONNECT server.com:443 ``` Rare in normal API. ## Summary | Method | Use | | --- | --- | | GET | Read | | POST | Create | | PUT | Update full | | PATCH | Update partial | | DELETE | Remove | | HEAD | Header only | | OPTIONS | Check methods | | TRACE | Debug | | CONNECT | Secure tunnel | ## Interview Answer (Short) > HTTP methods are used to perform operations on server resources. Main HTTP methods are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS, TRACE, CONNECT. Most commonly used methods in Web API are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE. --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34481/what-are-http-methods-how-many-types Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.