POST
What is it?
POST is an HTTP method used to send data to a server to create a new resource or trigger a process. Unlike GET, POST includes data in the request body rather than the URL, allowing for larger and more complex data including files. POST is not idempotent, meaning submitting the same request twice typically creates two separate resources or triggers an action twice.
Practical example
When a user fills out a registration form and clicks submit, the browser sends a POST request to /api/users. The form data travels in the request body as JSON or form-encoded data, not visible in the URL. The server validates all required fields, checks if the email already exists, hashes the password, creates a new user record, and responds with status 201 Created along with the new user object.
Test your knowledge
Where is data typically sent in a POST request?