GET and POST are two efficient techniques that can send the data to the server and browser necessarily need these to communicate to the server. The two methods are distinct where GET method adds the encoded data to the URI while in case of POST method the data is appended to the body rather than URI. Additionally, GET method is used for retrieving the data. Conversely, POST method is used for storing or updating the data.
The form tag is used for expressing the content of the form; this is also known as the form control. These forms are filled with regarding data then sent to the remote machine for the further processing. Functioning of the form includes two crucial things: former is the address specification of the program which handles the form contents with the help of ACTION. Later is the method specification within which the form data flows with the help of METHOD attribute.
ACTION attribute describes, how the HTML form is to be handled. METHOD attribute manages the submission process of the data. The GET and POST method comes under the METHOD attribute.
Content: GET Vs POST
Comparison Chart
| Basis for comparison | GET | POST |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters are placed inside | URI | Body |
| Purpose | Retrieval of documents | Updation of data |
| Query results | Capable of being bookmarked. | Cannot be bookmarked. |
| Security | Vulnerable, as present in plaintext | Safer than GET method |
| Form data type constraints | Only ASCII characters are permitted. | No constraints, even binary data is permitted. |
| Form data length | Should be kept as minimum as possible. | Could lie in any range. |
| Visibility | Can be seen by anyone. | Doesn't display variables in URL. |
| Variable size | Up to 2000 character. | Up to 8 Mb |
| Caching | Method data can be cached. | Does not cache the data. |
Definition of GET Method
GET method is used for requesting the URL from a web server to fetch the HTML documents. It is a conventional method for browsers to deliver the information which counted as a part of the HTTP protocol. The GET method represented in the form of URL, so that it can be bookmarked. GET is extensively used in search engines. After the submission of a query by the user to the search engine, the engine executes the query and gives the resulting page. The query results can be set as a link (bookmarked).
GET method enables the generation of anchors, which helps in accessing the CGI program with the query devoiding the usage of form. The query is constructed into a link, so when the link is visited the CGI program will retrieve the suitable information from the database.
GET method has some security issues because the inserted data is visible in the URL. Only a restricted amount of data can be passed through a GET method, as the length of the URL that a browser can traverse could be a thousand characters.
Another issue regarding GET method is that it can not deal with foreign languages. GET method is not suggested to use but still when method attributes are not defined the GET method is used as default.
Definition of POST Method
POST method is suitable in the condition where a significant amount of information can pass through. When a server receives the request by a form employing POST, it continues to “listens” for the left information. In simple words, the method transfers all the relevant information of the form input instantly after the request to the URL is made.
The POST method needs to establish two contacts with the web server whereas GET just makes one. The requests in the POST are managed in the same way as it is managed in the GET method where the spaces are represented in the plus (+) sign and rest characters are encoded in the URL pattern. It can also send the items of a file.
Key Differences Between GET and POST Method in HTML
- GET method places the parameters inside the URI while POST method appends the parameters into the body.
- GET is essentially used for fetching the information. As against, the purpose of POST method is to update the data.
- POST query results cannot be bookmarked whereas GET query results can be bookmarked because it exists in the form of URL.
- In GET method the information is visible in the URL which increases vulnerabilities and the risk of hacking. In contrast, the POST method does not show variable in URL and multiple encoding techniques can also be used in it, which make it resilient.
- When GET method is used in the form, only ASCII characters are accepted in data types. On the contrary, POST method does not bind form data types and permit binary as well as ASCII characters.
- The variable size in GET method is approx 2000 characters. Inversely, POST method allows up to 8 Mb variable size.
- GET method data is cacheable while data of POST method is not.
Example of GET
When the user enters any URL in the location bar of a browser, like http//www.example.com/xyz/file1.htm. The address is then converted into valid HTTP GET request, for example, GET/xyz/file1.htm HTTP/1.0.
This request is then transferred to the server www.example.com. The request asks for the file1.htm in the xyz directory, and whether it is connecting to the 1.0 dialect of HTTP. Here the user does not get the file by itself after submitting the file, in actuality a program is running in the background to handle the form data.
The user requires to pass form data with the name of the program for its execution. To achieve this execution, the form information is appended to the requested URL. It generates URL having hundred-character along with the actual data, for example, http://www.example.com/cgi-x/comments.exe?Name=AI+Alena&Age=23&Gender=female.
Example of POST
The data sent by a form could appear like Name=AI+Alena&Age=23&Gender=female. The program handles the data by partitioning the data. The form data can be encoded differently using ENCTYPE attribute in the POST method.
The form contents are not usually seen in the URL and its main advantage is that a considerable amount of data could be submitted using POST method.
Conclusion
The GET and POST method are used for sending the data to the server, and the main difference between them is that GET method append the data to the URI defined in the form’s action attribute. Conversely, POST method attaches data to the requested body. The use of GET method is inappropriate when the sensitive information needs to be filled in the form. POST method is useful when the user requires to fill the passwords or other confidential information.
David Ilori says
This post is really helpful… Thank you