---
title: HTTP request methods
slug: Web/HTTP/Methods
tags:
  - HTTP
  - Methods
  - NeedsTranslation
  - Reference
  - TopicStub
translation_of: Web/HTTP/Methods
---
<div>{{HTTPSidebar}}</div>

<p>HTTP defines a set of <strong>request methods</strong> to indicate the desired action to be performed for a given resource. Although they can also be nouns, these request methods are sometimes referred as <em>HTTP verbs</em>. Each of them implements a different semantic, but some common features are shared by a group of them: e.g. a request method can be {{glossary("safe")}}, {{glossary("idempotent")}}, or {{glossary("cacheable")}}.</p>

<dl>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/GET">GET</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>GET</code> method requests a representation of the specified resource. Requests using <code>GET</code> should only retrieve data.</dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/HEAD">HEAD</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>HEAD</code> method asks for a response identical to that of a <code>GET</code> request, but without the response body.</dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/POST">POST</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>POST</code> method is used to submit an entity to the specified resource, often causing a change in state or side effects on the server.</dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/PUT">PUT</a></code></dt>
 <dd>
 <p>The <code>PUT</code> method replaces all current representations of the target resource with the request payload.</p>
 </dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/DELETE">DELETE</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>DELETE</code> method deletes the specified resource.</dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/CONNECT">CONNECT</a></code></dt>
 <dd>
 <p>The <code>CONNECT</code> method establishes a tunnel to the server identified by the target resource.</p>
 </dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/OPTIONS">OPTIONS</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>OPTIONS</code> method is used to describe the communication options for the target resource.</dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/TRACE">TRACE</a></code></dt>
 <dd>
 <p>The <code>TRACE</code> method performs a message loop-back test along the path to the target resource.</p>
 </dd>
 <dt><code><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/PATCH">PATCH</a></code></dt>
 <dd>The <code>PATCH</code> method is used to apply partial modifications to a resource.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Title</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{RFC("7231", "Request methods", "4")}}</td>
   <td>Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Semantics and Content</td>
   <td>Specifies GET, HEAD, POST, PUT, DELETE, CONNECT, OPTIONS, TRACE.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{RFC("5789", "Patch method", "2")}}</td>
   <td>PATCH Method for HTTP</td>
   <td>Specifies PATCH.</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<p>{{Compat("http/methods")}}</p>

<h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>

<ul>
 <li><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers">HTTP headers</a></li>
</ul>