Hypertext Transfer Protocol or HTTP deals with the communication between the server and the client and works as a request-response protocol between the client and the server. For this, it uses post request and get request.
This article offers a detailed discussion on GET vs POST. When we use a web browser and visit any website, on the URL bar we can see HTTP before www. Most of the websites have HTTPS here to represent that the website is secure.
Difference between POST Request and GET Request (GET vs POST)
HTTP has many methods such as GET, POST, PUT, HEAD, DELETE, PATCH, and OPTION. Here in this article, we will compare the two most used HTTP methods i.e. GET and POST. We use POST and GET methods when we create HTML forms . We pass the get and post requests along with the form tag and these methods operate on the data that a client passes on that form when he/she fills it.
Both GET and POST gets a request from the user or client and communicate with the server. When we use the POST request it supplies all the filled information in the message body but when we use the GET request it includes all the filled data in the URL.
POST vs GET: Head to Head Comparison
| PARAMETERS | POST | GET |
| Data Parameters | It does not store and include the data parameters in the URL or anywhere on the client system. | It includes the data parameters in the URL which can store in the browser history and the security of the client can be compromised. |
| Bookmark | As the data does not include in the URL so there is no concept of Bookmark. | The get request data can be Bookmarked. |
| Reload the Page | The data will be resubmitted. | The page will be re-executed but not re-submitted. It does not send any request to the host because it is saved in the cache memory. |
| Security | POST request provides security over the data. | GET request does not provide any security. |
| Cache | No cache. | There can be many caches. |
| Data Length | There is no limit for data length. | It has a data length limit of 2048 characters. |
| Data Type | All data types are allowed. | Only accepts ASCII characters. |
| Data Visibility | In the POST method, data is not visible to everyone. | Data is visible to everyone in the GET method. |
| Use | We use the POST method with sensitive data like a password. | GET is usually used with insensitive data. |
GET vs POST: Working with Form Submission
Though GET and POST requests have different features, they both serve the same purpose. The process of submission of data by the client commences in the same manner for both methods when a form is filled and the client submits the form data.
1. Method = ‘GET’
After the form submission, the get method creates a URL with the help of the action attribute, which passes along the form tag and appends it with the data given by the client.
Example:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title></title> </head> <body> <form action="page.php" method="GET"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> </form> </body> </html>
2. Method = ‘POST’
In the post after the form submission by the client, it uses the action attribute to create a message according to the content type specified by the enctype attribute.
Example:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title></title> </head> <body> <form action="page.php" method="POST"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname"><br><br> <label for="pwd">Password:</label> <input type="password" id="pwd" name="pwd"> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> </form> </body> </html>
Pros and Cons of Using the GET Method
Pros
- SEO-friendly method.
- Easier to set up for small, non-secure data.
- Can be cached.
- Faster process.
Cons
- Does not have a request body.
- Data security is the main concern.
- Only accepts ASCII characters.
- Data length has limits.
Pros and Cons of Using the POST Method
Pros
- It can send data to the server in the invisible mode.
- Does not have any data length limit.
- Any kind of data could be sent using the POST request.
Cons
- The client has to send data again if we reuse that page normally. It causes a warning in the web browser.
- Not cached. This means we cannot save pages for a long period.
Conclusion
That sums up our take on the GET vs POST debate. With the examples demonstrated above, you can clearly understand the difference between the two requests. If you have any queries about the same, please drop them in the comments. We'd address them at the earliest possible.
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