Which HTTP method is used to modify a resource on the server?

Which HTTP method is used to modify a resource on the server?

• A. TRACE
• B. GET
• C. PUT
• D. HEAD

Answer: (C)

HTTP methods define what you do with a resource. To modify a resource on the server, you send a representation of the new state to a specific URI, and the PUT method is designed for this purpose. PUT targets a exact location and replaces the resource at that URI with the data in the request body; if the resource already exists, it is updated, and if it doesn’t, it can be created there. Also, PUT is idempotent, meaning sending the same request multiple times has the same effect as sending it once, which is important for reliable updates. The other methods shown are not for modification: TRACE is for diagnostic testing and echoes the request back, GET retrieves a resource, and HEAD asks for the headers only and does not transfer the resource body. Since none of these change the resource, they’re not used for updating content.

HTTP methods define what you do with a resource. To modify a resource on the server, you send a representation of the new state to a specific URI, and the PUT method is designed for this purpose. PUT targets a exact location and replaces the resource at that URI with the data in the request body; if the resource already exists, it is updated, and if it doesn’t, it can be created there. Also, PUT is idempotent, meaning sending the same request multiple times has the same effect as sending it once, which is important for reliable updates.

The other methods shown are not for modification: TRACE is for diagnostic testing and echoes the request back, GET retrieves a resource, and HEAD asks for the headers only and does not transfer the resource body. Since none of these change the resource, they’re not used for updating content.