Applies a partial modification to the target resource, unlike PUT which replaces it entirely.
Quick facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Safe (does not modify state) | No |
| Idempotent (repeatable) | No |
| Cacheable | No |
Description
Applies a partial modification to the target resource, unlike PUT which replaces it entirely.
Example
curl -X PATCH https://api.example.com/users/1 -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name":"Ada"}'Request example
PATCH /api/users/1 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{"name":"Ada"}PATCH vs PUT
| PATCH | PUT |
|---|---|
| Apply a partial update | Replace the whole resource |
| Not necessarily idempotent | Idempotent |
All HTTP methods
Frequently asked questions
PATCH is not a safe method — calling it can change resource state.
PATCH is not idempotent — repeated requests may produce different results.
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-09-13
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