Idempotent
DELETE HTTP Method
DELETE requests ask the server to remove the target resource.
Meaning
The client asks the server to remove the association for the target resource.
Common uses
Use DELETE for remove operations where repeating the same request should not create a new effect.
What to check
Check whether the resource already disappeared, whether deletion is asynchronous, and whether authorization allows removal.
Example request
DELETE /articles/123 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.comProperties
- Safe
- No. This method can change server state.
- Idempotent
- Yes. Repeating the same request should have the same intended effect.
- Cacheable
- No
- Request body
- Possible, but unusual and often unsupported.
References
- Registry
- IANA HTTP Method Registry
- Guide
- MDN DELETE