Using HTTP POST to query a Database

Question

Can I use REST HTTP POST to query a database, for which I am designing a REST API SERVICE. Basically my confusion is whether to use GET or POST. I want to pass some parameter to the query so I was thinking to use POST. But reading on net I found that GET should be used mainly if there is READ ONLY ACCESS and POST should be used when you create something on the server side

possible duplicate of [When do you use POST and when do you use GET?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/46585/when-do-you-use-post-and-when-do-you-use-get) — Tim, Jun 02 '14 at 06:30

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 02 '14 at 06:31

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You are right. By convention, GET is used to retrieve information, POST for creating, PUT for modifying, and DELETE for deleting. See http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec9.html

edited Jun 02 '14 at 06:31

Tim

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answered Jun 02 '14 at 06:24

Fabricator

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Actually POST is used for creating and PUT is for updating/modifying. – crea1 Jun 02 '14 at 06:27
Create = POST , Edit/Update => Put – Pramod S. Nikam Jun 02 '14 at 06:30
This info might be correct but it doesn't answer the question *Can I use REST HTTP POST to query a database* – Tim Jun 02 '14 at 06:32

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 02 '14 at 06:27

If you want to render information based on identifier then you should get it through GET.

basically CRUD is treated with REST by assigning dedicated http methods which are as follows:

Create => POST

Read => GET

Update => PUT

delete => DELETE

if you using POST for getting Read Only Information there's no harm but You are violating REST principle

Using HTTP POST to query a Database

2 Answers2