PUT
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
PUT replaces an entire resource with new data. It's like taking a whole document, throwing it away, and replacing it with a new version. You're not just changing a few fields — you're replacing the whole thing.
Real Talk
PUT is an HTTP method that replaces the entire representation of a resource with the request body. It's idempotent — calling it multiple times with the same data produces the same result. Used for full updates, contrast with PATCH for partial updates.
Show Me The Code
PUT /api/users/42
{
"name": "Alice Updated",
"email": "new@example.com",
"role": "admin"
}
When You'll Hear This
"Use PUT to fully replace the user's profile data." / "PUT vs PATCH: PUT sends all fields, PATCH sends only changed fields."
Related Terms
CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
CRUD is the four things you can do to data: Create it, Read it, Update it, Delete it. Literally every app ever made is just CRUD in a trenchcoat.
DELETE
DELETE removes rows from a table. It is the 'Delete' in CRUD. Like UPDATE, you MUST use a WHERE clause — without it, you delete everything in the table.
GET
GET is the HTTP method for reading data. You're just asking 'can I see that?' — no changes, no side effects.
POST
POST is the HTTP method for creating new things. When you submit a form, sign up, or upload a file — that's a POST.
REST (Representational State Transfer)
REST is a set of rules for how APIs should behave. Think of it as the etiquette guide for servers and clients talking to each other.