Essential Guide to HTTP POST Request Method

PAVITHRA PARTHIBAN - 09 JUN 2023

The POST method is a crucial part of the HTTP protocol that allows data
submission from clients to servers. Unlike other methods like GET, POST sends
data in the request body, making it ideal for secure and confidential information.

By understanding the POST method, you can enable powerful functionalities such
as form submissions, resource creation, and API operations.

One of the distinguishing features of the POST method is its ability to handle
sensitive and confidential data. Since the data is transmitted in the request body
rather than in the URL, it offers a more secure approach for transmitting information
such as passwords, personal details, or financial data.

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 Let us explore the ins and outs of the POST method in web development. We'll
uncover its abilities, understand how it works, and discover how it can enhance
your web development projects.

Table of Contents

1. POST Request Method

2. Components of a POST Request Method
3. Sending HTTP Headers with HTTP POST Request
4. Use cases of POST Method
5. POST Method VS GET Method
6. Key Points to Remember

POST Request Method

In web development, when you want to send data from a client (such as a web
browser) to a server, you can use different HTTP methods. One of these methods is
called a POST request.

A POST request is used when you want to submit data to the server to create or
update a resource.

GET
/store/fashion (Returnsaccessoriesinventoriesbystatus)

POST
/store/order (Placeanorderforyourself)

/store/order/{orderld}(FindpurchaseorderbyID)

DELETE
/store/order/forderld}(DeletepurchaseorderbyID)

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 For example, let's say you have a simple website with a form where users can
submit their email addresses to subscribe to a newsletter. When a user enters their
email address and clicks the submit button, the form will typically send a POST
request to the server.

Here's a simple example to illustrate how a POST request works. Let's assume you
have a web page with a form like this,

<form action="/subscribe" method="post">

<input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Enter your email">
<button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
</form>

In this example, When a user fills out an HTML form and clicks the submit button,
the browser sends a POST request to the server at the specified URL, which is
mentioned in the form's action attribute.

In this case, the URL is "/subscribe". The POST request carries the data entered in
the form, such as the email address, within its body.

On the server-side, the server receives this POST request and extracts the data
from the request's body. It can then perform various actions with the data, such as
storing the email address in a database, sending a confirmation email to the user, or
processing the information in any other required way.

The POST request method is commonly used when creating or updating resources
on the server, allowing users to submit data and interact with web applications.

Components of a POST Request Method

A POST request involves several key components that play important roles in
transmitting data from a client to a server. Understanding these components is
crucial for effectively utilizing and implementing POST requests in web
development. Let us take a look at each of these components:

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 1. URL/Endpoint: The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or endpoint specifies the
server location where the POST request is sent. It identifies the specific
resource or action that the server should handle. It acts as a unique address for
accessing a particular web page, service, or API endpoint.
2. Request Method: The request method indicates the type of action being
performed on the server. In the case of a POST request, it signifies that data is
being submitted to the server to create or update a resource. Other common
request methods include GET (retrieving data), PUT (updating data), and
DELETE (removing data).
3. Request Header: The request header contains additional information about
the request. It includes metadata and instructions for the server, such as the
content type being sent, character encoding, authentication credentials, and
details related to caching, language preferences, or user agents.
4. Request Body: The request body carries the actual data being sent in the
POST request. It contains the payload or content that needs to be processed
by the server. This can include form data, JSON, XML, or other structured data
formats. The request body is where the relevant data is placed for the server to
process and take appropriate actions.
5. Response: The response is the server's reply to the client's request. It
contains the result of the requested action, including status information, data
from the server (if applicable), and additional metadata. The response allows
the client to understand the outcome of the request and handle it accordingly.
6. Content-Length: A header field that specifies the length or size of the request
body in bytes. It helps the server know the size of the incoming data.
7. Authentication: If the server requires authentication, the POST request may
need to include credentials or tokens in the headers or body to authenticate
the client making the request.

Here's an example that includes all the components of a POST request in a single
example:

POST /api/users HTTP/1.1

Host: api.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
User-Agent: MyClient/1.0

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 Content-Length: 64

{
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "[email protected]",
"age": 30
}

In this example:

The request method is POST .

The request URI is /api/users .

The HTTP version is HTTP/1.1 .

The Host header specifies the host or domain of the server

( api.example.com in this case).

The Content-Type header indicates that the request body is in JSON format.

The Authorization header contains the access token for authentication.

The User-Agent header identifies the client making the request.

The Content-Length header specifies the length of the request body in

bytes.

The request body contains the user data in JSON format.

These components together form a complete example of a POST request, which

can be sent to the server to create a new user or perform other operations as per
the API's specifications.

Sending HTTP Headers with HTTP POST Request

When sending an HTTP POST request, you have the option to include headers in
the request. Headers provide additional information about the request or the data
being sent. Here's an overview of how to send HTTP headers with an HTTP POST
request:

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 1. Content-Type

One important header to include is the Content-Type header. It specifies the format
of the data being sent in the request body. Common Content-Type values include,

application/json: for sending JSON data

application/x-www-form-urlencoded: for sending form data

multipart/form-data: for sending binary or file data

Example:

Content-Type: application/json

2. Authorization

If your server requires authentication, you may need to include the Authorization
header. This header typically includes a token or credentials to authenticate the
request.

Example:

Authorization: Bearer your-token-here

3. Custom Headers

You can also include custom headers to convey specific information or instructions
to the server. These headers can be defined by the server or the application.

Example:

X-Requested-With: XMLHttpRequest

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 4. Accept

The Accept header indicates the media types that the client is able to handle in the
response. It specifies the preferred format for the server to send the response data
back to the client.

Example:

Accept: application/json

These are just a few examples of commonly used headers with HTTP POST
requests. The headers you include may vary depending on the specific
requirements of the server or the desired behaviour of the request.

The headers you choose to include should align with the server's expectations and
any additional functionality you wish to incorporate.

Use cases of POST Method

The POST method is commonly used in web development for various purposes.
Here are some common use cases for the POST method:

1. Form Submission

When a user submits a form on a website, the data entered in the form fields is
typically sent to the server using a POST request. This allows the server to process
and store the submitted data.

<html>
<head>
<title>Form Submission Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Contact Form</h1>

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 <form action="/submit-form" method="POST">
<label for="name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" required><br><br>

<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" required><br><br>

<label for="message">Message:</label><br>
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="4" cols="50" requ

<input type="submit" value="Submit">

</form>
</body>
</html>

In this example, we have a simple contact form with fields for name, email, and
message.

2. Creating Resources

POST requests are often used to create new resources on a server. For example,
when adding a new item to an online shopping cart or creating a new post in a
blogging platform, the data describing the new resource is sent to the server via a
POST request.

3. Uploading Files

When uploading files, such as images or documents, to a server, the POST method
is used. The file data is included in the request body, allowing the server to receive
and save the file on the server-side.

Here's an example of how you can upload files using the POST method in Node.js:

const axios = require('axios');

const FormData = require('form-data');

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 const fs = require('fs');

async function uploadFile() {

const url = 'http://example.com/upload';
const filePath = 'path/to/file.jpg';

const form = new FormData();

form.append('file', fs.createReadStream(filePath));

try {
const response = await axios.post(url, form, {
headers: form.getHeaders()
});
console.log(response.data);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}

uploadFile();

In this example, we're using the axios library for making the HTTP POST request
and the form-data library to handle multipart form data. We create a new
FormData instance, append the file to it using fs.createReadStream() , and
then send the POST request with the appropriate headers.

4. API Operations

POST requests are commonly used in API (Application Programming Interface)

operations to perform actions that modify or create resources on the server. For
example, creating a new user account, submitting a comment, or updating a
database record.

Here's an example of how you can perform API operations using the POST method
in Node.js:

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 const axios = require('axios');

async function performAPIOperation() {

const url = 'http://example.com/api/operation';
const data = {
operation: 'some_operation',
parameter1: 'value1',
parameter2: 'value2'
};

try {
const response = await axios.post(url, data);
console.log(response.data);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}

performAPIOperation();

Replace 'http://example.com/api/operation' with the actual endpoint URL

for performing the API operation. Adjust the data object according to the
operation and parameters required by your API.

5. Data Modification

In some cases, the POST method is used to update or modify data on the server.
While this is not the standard usage (as it should ideally be done using the PUT or
PATCH methods), certain systems or frameworks may handle data modification
through POST requests.

Here's an example of how you can perform data modification using the POST
method in Node.js:

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 const axios = require('axios');

async function modifyData() {

const url = 'http://example.com/api/data';
const data = {
id: 123,
name: 'Updated Name',
description: 'Updated Description'
};

try {
const response = await axios.post(url, data);
console.log(response.data);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}

modifyData();

Replace 'http://example.com/api/data' with the actual endpoint URL for

modifying the data. Adjust the data object according to the specific data
modification requirements of your application.

POST Method VS GET Method

PARAMETERS POST METHOD GET METHOD

The POST method is primarily The GET method is used to

used to submit data from the retrieve data from the server
client to the server, often for without making any
Purpose
creating new resources or modifications. It requests a
performing actions that modify representation of a resource
server data. identified by a URL.

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 In a POST request, data is sent In a GET request, data is
in the body of the request. It sent through the URL's
Row Data can include form data, JSON, query parameters. The data
Handling XML, or other structured is visible in the URL and has
formats, allowing for larger limitations on the amount of
amounts of data to be data that can be
transmitted. transmitted.

POST requests are generally GET requests are less

considered more secure as the secure as the data is visible
Security data is transmitted in the in the URL, making it
request body, which is not susceptible to being
directly visible in the URL. intercepted or stored in logs.

GET requests can be cached

POST requests are generally by browsers and
not cached by browsers or intermediate caches since
Caching
intermediate caches since they they are considered safe
typically modify server data. and do not modify server
data.

POST requests are not

idempotent. Repeating the GET requests are
same POST request may result idempotent. Repeating the
Idempotence in different outcomes each time, same GET request will
such as creating multiple produce the same result
resources or triggering different without any side effects.
actions.

Key Points to Remember

The POST method is used to submit data from clients to servers in web
development.

Unlike the GET method, POST sends data in the request body, allowing for
secure and confidential information transmission.

Common use cases for the POST method include form submissions, resource

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 creation, file uploads, API operations, and data modification.

Handle sensitive data securely by utilizing the POST method for transmission.

Validate and process the incoming POST requests on the server-side.

Adhere to best practices and industry standards when implementing the POST
method.

Continuously update your knowledge of POST method advancements and

industry trends.

By mastering the POST method, you can enhance user experiences and add
powerful functionalities to your web applications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTTP POST request method is a crucial component of web

communication, facilitating the secure and efficient transmission of data from a
client to a server.

By utilizing the request body, POST requests allow for the creation and modification
of resources on the server, making them essential for a wide range of web
applications.

The advantages of the HTTP POST method include its ability to handle large
amounts of data, support for different data formats, and enhanced security
measures compared to the GET method.

Its versatility makes it a fundamental tool for developers, enabling the

implementation of secure user authentication and authorization systems.

By understanding and effectively utilizing the HTTP POST method, developers can
build robust and interactive web applications that meet the needs of users and
provide a seamless online experience.

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