HTTP request methods are used to indicate the desired action to be performed on a resource identified by a URL. Here are the commonly used HTTP request methods along with their descriptions:
GET: Retrieves a representation of the specified resource. It should not have any side effects on the server.
POST: Submits data to be processed to the specified resource. It can create new resources or perform other actions with side effects on the server.
PUT: Updates or replaces the specified resource with the provided representation. It can also create a new resource if the resource does not exist.
DELETE: Deletes the specified resource.
PATCH: Applies partial modifications to the specified resource. It is used to update only specific parts of a resource.
HEAD: Retrieves the headers of the specified resource without fetching the actual content. It is often used to check the status or metadata of a resource.
OPTIONS: Retrieves the communication options available for the specified resource. It allows the client to determine the supported methods, headers, and other capabilities.
TRACE: Echoes back the received request for diagnostic purposes. It is rarely used due to security concerns.
CONNECT: Establishes a network connection with the target resource, typically for use with proxies.
These HTTP request methods provide a standardized way for clients to interact with web servers and perform different operations on resources. Each method has its own specific purpose and behavior, and they are used based on the requirements of the application and the desired action on the server-side resource.