Slide 10 - HTTP Method: Get vs. Post § Session 03 - HTML (Forms & Tables), Introduction to CSS

HTTP Method: Get vs. Post

Use POST when form action should not be repeated; or when the action "changes the state"
Use GET when form action is safely repeatable; when the action does not change the state.
The technical term for this is "idempotent".

get: form information sent from browser to server as part of query string, visible in the URL

Query String

https://host/path?param1=value1&param2=value2&param3=value3
Question mark
Ampersand separated parameter/value pairs
parameter=value

post: form information sent from browser to server as part of HTTP body; not in URL

Example 3.2 - Simple for using 'get' - Example 3.2

Markup
Display


 <form method="get" action="https://cs12.net/form/submit.php">Email Address:
   <input type="text" name="email"/>

   <br/>

   <button type="submit">Submit   </button>
 </form>

Example 3.3 - Simple form using 'post' - Example 3.3

Markup
Display


 <form method="post" action="https://cs12.net/form/submit.php">Email Address:
   <input type="text" name="email"/>

   <br/>

   <button type="submit">Submit   </button>
 </form>