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Other HTTP/1.0 Request Types

The HTTP 1.0 protocol is formally specified in terms of "methods," rather than simple commands. The available methods are:
GET
We've already seen this "request to read a generalised object". The object can be a Web "page" (HTML document), an image, a sound sample or a wide range of other types.
HEAD
A request to return the response header only, without the content. This can contain much useful information about the requested entity, without the need to actually load it -- eg, how big it is.
POST
Originally defined as a request to "append to a named resource" (eg, a Web page), this method is extensively used in CGI-based systems, see later.
PUT
Request to store a Web page. Has only ever been used experimentally.
DELETE
Delete the Web page specified. I'm unaware of this having ever being used, so we can ignore it.
LINK
Connect two existing resources. Likewise, never used.
UNLINK
Breaks an existing connection between two resources. Not used.

 


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