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 2026-09-13
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about this tool
This page provides original, human-reviewed information about HTTP methods such as POST, the HTTP Method Reference and related concepts. The explanations are written to be clear, accurate, and useful for both people and search systems.
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