Removes the association between the target resource and its current functionality. Idempotent.
Quick facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Safe (does not modify state) | No |
| Idempotent (repeatable) | Yes |
| Cacheable | No |
Description
Removes the association between the target resource and its current functionality. Idempotent.
Example
curl -X DELETE https://api.example.com/users/1
Request example
DELETE /api/users/1 HTTP/1.1 Host: example.com
DELETE vs POST
| DELETE | POST |
|---|---|
| Remove a resource | Create or process |
| Idempotent | Not idempotent |
All HTTP methods
Frequently asked questions
DELETE is not a safe method — calling it can change resource state.
DELETE is idempotent — repeated requests have the same effect as a single request.
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-09-13
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