Advanced Http Methods And Status Codes

1. HTTP Methods

HTTP defines a set of request methods that indicate the desired action to be performed on the identified resource. Here are some advanced HTTP methods you should know:

PATCH: Used to apply partial modifications to a resource.

OPTIONS: Describes the communication options for the target resource.

TRACE: Performs a message loop-back test along the path to the target resource.

CONNECT: Establishes a tunnel to the server identified by the target resource.

Note: While PATCH is commonly used for partial updates, it should only be used with RESTful APIs that support it.

Example of PATCH Request

PATCH /users/123
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "name": "New Name"
}

2. HTTP Status Codes

HTTP status codes are issued by a server in response to a client's request made to the server. Here are some advanced status codes:

206 Partial Content: The server is delivering only part of the resource due to a range header sent by the client.

308 Permanent Redirect: The request and all future requests should be repeated using another URI.

451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons: The server is denying access to the resource in accordance with legal requirements.

429 Too Many Requests: The user has sent too many requests in a given amount of time.

Tip: Always check the status code when making API calls to handle responses appropriately.

Example of a 206 Response

HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content
Content-Range: bytes 0-499/1234
Content-Length: 500

3. Best Practices

Here are some best practices to follow when using advanced HTTP methods and status codes:

Always use the correct HTTP method according to the RESTful principles.

Return appropriate status codes in your API responses to inform clients about the result of their requests.

Document your API endpoints clearly, including the expected HTTP methods and status codes.

Implement rate limiting to handle 429 status codes effectively.

4. FAQ

What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?

PUT replaces the entire resource, while PATCH applies partial modifications to the resource.

When should I use the OPTIONS method?

Use the OPTIONS method to find out the communication options available for a given resource.