Get Method vs. Post Method — What's the Difference?

The Get Method, in the context of HTTP and web development, is used primarily to retrieve data from a specified resource. It's important to note that the Get Method appends data into the URL in a query string. This means that the parameters are stored in the server logs and browser history. The Post Method, however, is utilized when the data needs to be submitted to be processed to a specified resource. It passes the information via the HTTP header, so the data does not appear in the URL or server logs.

The Get Method is ideal for fetching documents, where the user is requesting data or resources that require no modification on the server side. It's a standard method for requesting data from a website and is used every time you see a URL or link on a webpage. The Post Method is employed when users need to upload a file or submit a completed web form. In scenarios where user authentication is necessary or data must remain confidential, the Post Method is more appropriate because the information transmitted is not visible.

One significant limitation of the Get Method is the amount of data that can be sent, which is restricted by the URL length (a maximum of 2048 characters). This is because the data is appended to the URL. The Post Method does not have this restriction. It allows large quantities of data to be submitted because the data is sent in the body of the HTTP request, not in the URL.

The Get Method is idempotent, meaning that multiple identical requests will have the same effect as a single request. The responses to Get Method requests are cacheable, which means they can be stored to save time on repeated requests. Conversely, the Post Method is non-idempotent. If you make two identical Post Method requests, they may have different effects, and the responses are not cacheable by default.

Security-wise, the Get Method is less secure compared to the Post Method as the data sent is part of the URL. So, it's saved in browser history and server logs. The Post Method, being more secure, encapsulates the data inside the request body, which is not stored anywhere. However, both Get Method and Post Method are not inherently secure; data sent using both methods can be intercepted unless an SSL/TLS layer secures the communication.