Business analysis glossary
HTTP Method
What it is
An HTTP method tells the server what kind of action is requested. GET reads data, POST creates something, PUT replaces or updates it, PATCH changes part of it and DELETE removes it. The safe methods, such as GET, should never change data, while methods such as POST, PUT and DELETE are expected to.
Why it matters
Using the right method makes an API predictable. Analysts specify methods in requirements so that, for example, reading data never changes it. Mixing them up causes real problems, for example a link that deletes data when a crawler or a prefetch simply follows it.
Example
For Marlow Online Store orders: GET /orders/5521 reads an order, POST /orders creates one, PATCH /orders/5521 changes the delivery address and DELETE /orders/5521 cancels it if the rules allow. Each requirement then states which method is used so the developer, tester and integration partner all share the same expectation.