Common methods are GET for reading, POST for creating, PUT/PATCH for updating, and DELETE for removing resources.
- 2xx: success
- 3xx: redirection
- 4xx: client/request problem
- 5xx: server problem
Accurate status codes make APIs easier to consume and debug.
Deep dive
Idempotency
Some HTTP operations are designed to be safely repeated. Understanding idempotency becomes important for retries, payment systems, and distributed applications.
Do not misuse status codes
A successful deletion does not need to return a full object if the API contract says otherwise. Choose response codes and response bodies consistently across your API.
ADVERTISEMENT