Python Requests: POST vs PUT
When dealing with APIs, you may need to send data to a server to create or update a resource. Python Requests is a popular library that simplifies this process. Two HTTP methods commonly used for sending data are POST and PUT. In this article, we'll explore the differences between these methods and when to use them.
POST
POST is used for creating new resources on the server. When you send a POST request, the server creates a new resource and returns a response containing information about the created resource, such as its ID.
import requests
data = {'name': 'John', 'age': 30}
response = requests.post('https://example.com/users', json=data)
print(response.json())
In the above example, we're sending a POST request to create a new user. The data we're sending is in JSON format and is passed as the 'json' parameter to the post() method. The URL we're sending the request to is 'https://example.com/users'.
PUT
PUT is used for updating existing resources on the server. When you send a PUT request, you specify the ID of the resource you want to update, along with the new data. The server updates the resource and returns a response containing information about the updated resource.
import requests
data = {'name': 'John Doe', 'age': 30}
response = requests.put('https://example.com/users/1', json=data)
print(response.json())
In the above example, we're sending a PUT request to update the user with ID 1. The data we're sending is in JSON format and is passed as the 'json' parameter to the put() method. The URL we're sending the request to is 'https://example.com/users/1'.
Conclusion
In summary, POST is used for creating new resources, while PUT is used for updating existing resources. When using Python Requests, you can use the post() and put() methods to send POST and PUT requests, respectively. Just make sure you're sending the correct data and URL to the server!