What is the GET method?
The GET method requests a representation of the specified resource. Requests using GET should only retrieve data and should have no other effect on the state of the system.
API Usage & Best Practices
- Always safe & idempotent: GET requests must be read-only. Performing a GET request must never modify database records or trigger state mutations on the server.
- Support caching: GET responses are cacheable by default. Leverage caching headers (
ETag,Cache-Control) to reduce backend load. - Pagination & Filtering: Pass query parameters (e.g.
?page=2&limit=50) in the URL for list filtering, sorting, or pagination.
Common Response Codes
- 200 OK: The resource was found and returned in the body.
- 206 Partial Content: Used when delivering a range segment of a larger file.
- 304 Not Modified: The client’s cached copy is still fresh.
- 404 Not Found: The requested resource does not exist.
