Demystifying GET and POST
If you’re eager to learn more about web development, you’re in luck because this is just the article for you 🫵🏼
In this post, I will tackle a fundamental concept of web development: GET and POST requests. Suppose you’ve grown up with technology like me and like me and spend a significant amount of your time on the internet; you may have an inherent understanding of these concepts, even if you haven’t consciously recognised it.
📚 HTTP: Learning the Language of the Web
Before we dive into GET and POST, let’s talk about HTTP — Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP serves as the foundation of the web, enabling data transfer over the internet (Hooray!). Imagine HTTP as a reliable delivery system that ensures information reaches its intended destination. Whether you’re typing a URL in your browser or making an API call, this delivery system comes into play!
💽 GET: Fetching Data
Let’s start the conversation with GET requests. Think of using GET as politely asking a server for information or requesting access to a webpage. Picture this: a sudden wave of nostalgia hits you, and you excitedly type the Neopet URL into your browser, then Voila, you can experience your favourite site! Think of GET like a magical messenger; the GET request is sent to the server, kindly asking for the precious contents of your beloved childhood website.
🏤 POST: Sending Data
Now, let’s shift our focus to POST requests. Think of a POST request like a superhero that allows you to send data to a server. This data could be user-submitted information, like creating a username for your Neopets account. POST requests hold immense power, as they can modify the server’s state and trigger actions. Think of it like sending your own secret message to the server.
⁉️ Knowing When to Use GET and POST
Knowing when to use GET and POST is essential. Remember, use GET when you want to retrieve data without making changes and use POST when sending data to a server; as a developer is all about choosing the right tool for the right job!
🤯 Things to Keep in Mind
GET requests expose data through URLs, while POST requests hide the data in the request body. Think of GET requests like an open extroverted friend sharing URLs for everyone to see. On the other hand, POST requests are like an introverted friend, securely hiding in the request body, away from the prying eyes of other people! But hold on! Whilst you might love your two friends, being aware of their shortcomings is essential. For example, we must consider sensitive information when using GET and POST. Using a GET request for an activity like sending a password would be a BIG NO because your GET request friend would be unintentionally spilling the beans and exposing you to the world!
⌛ Let’s tie a beautiful bow on this topic: understanding GET and POST requests is essential to understand the vast environment of the World Wide Web. GET and POST great ways to communicate, but it’s essential to understand the different ways they communicate.
These requests are a language of communication, and it’s crucial to consider which communication style is best for what situation! After all, we all know communication is key!
