What is the SEARCH method?
The SEARCH method is a WebDAV extension (RFC 5323) used by clients to send a query in the request body and have the server return matching resources, without changing any state.
API Usage & Best Practices
- Query in the body: Unlike GET, SEARCH carries its query in the request body, allowing rich, structured criteria.
- Read-only and repeatable: SEARCH is safe and idempotent, so the same query returns consistent results and can be retried freely.
- Know the overlap: SEARCH conceptually overlaps with the newer QUERY method, which aims to standardise body-bearing reads more broadly.
Common Response Codes
- 200 OK: The query succeeded and results are returned in the body.
- 207 Multi-Status: Per-resource results are returned for a WebDAV-style search.
- 422 Unprocessable Content: The query body was well-formed but could not be understood or executed.
