Submits an entity to the target resource, typically creating a sub-resource or triggering processing. Neither safe nor idempotent.
Quick facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Safe (does not modify state) | No |
| Idempotent (repeatable) | No |
| Cacheable | No |
Description
Submits an entity to the target resource, typically creating a sub-resource or triggering processing. Neither safe nor idempotent.
Example
curl -X POST https://api.example.com/users -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name":"Ada"}'Request example
POST /api/users HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{"name":"Ada"}POST vs GET
| POST | GET |
|---|---|
| Submit data | Retrieve data |
| Not safe | Safe |
| Not idempotent | Idempotent |
All HTTP methods
Frequently asked questions
POST is not a safe method — calling it can change resource state.
POST is not idempotent — repeated requests may produce different results.
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
Explore this reference
Related status codes
Related headers