An HTTP request is a message sent from a client, such as a web browser, to a server to ask for a resource or perform a specific action. These requests are the primary way clients and servers communicate, enabling actions like retrieving a webpage, submitting a form, or deleting a file. Essentially, they are the commands that power the exchange of data across the web.
HTTP requests are defined by their method, which indicates the action to be performed on a resource. These methods, often called verbs, are a fundamental part of how the web works, dictating the interaction between a client and a server. While there are several methods, a few are used more commonly than others.
An HTTP request is composed of several distinct parts that work together to communicate the client's intent to the server. These components provide the server with all the necessary information to process the request, from the desired action to the data being sent. Each part has a specific role in ensuring the message is understood correctly.
While closely related, HTTP requests and API calls serve different functions in web communication.
HTTP request methods are the verbs of the web, defining the specific action a client wants to perform on a server's resource. Each method has a distinct purpose, from simply fetching data to making significant changes on the server. Understanding these common methods is key to web development and API interaction.
Always use the correct HTTP method for the intended action, like GET for retrieving data and POST for creating it. This ensures clarity in your API interactions. For security, transmit sensitive data over HTTPS to encrypt the connection and protect information in transit.
Optimize performance by leveraging caching for GET requests to reduce server load. Use PATCH for partial updates to minimize data transfer. Use HEAD requests to check resource metadata without downloading the full content, saving bandwidth.
What's the real difference between PUT and PATCH?
PUT replaces the entire target resource with the request payload. If the resource doesn't exist, it's created. PATCH, however, applies partial modifications to a resource, making it more efficient for minor updates as it only sends the changes.
Are GET requests always safe and idempotent?
By definition, GET requests should be safe (not alter server state) and idempotent (multiple identical requests have the same effect as one). However, poor server-side implementation can violate these principles, so it's a convention, not a technical guarantee.
When should I use a custom HTTP header?
Use custom headers, often prefixed with `X-`, for passing application-specific information that doesn't fit standard headers. This can include API versioning, custom authentication tokens, or unique transaction IDs for debugging and tracking purposes on the server.
A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is a document that a company sends to one or more suppliers to get a quote for specific products or services.
Feature flags let you remotely control features in your app without new code. This enables safe testing, gradual rollouts, and quick rollbacks.
Tokenization is the process of breaking down text into smaller units called tokens, such as words or characters, for AI to process.
A channel partner is a company that works with a manufacturer or producer to market and sell their products, software, or services to customers.
Firmographic data is information used to classify firms. It includes attributes like industry, employee count, location, and annual revenue.
A hybrid sales model blends traditional and digital sales methods to engage customers across multiple channels and buying preferences.
Learn about business to customer, including maximizing B2C sales strategies, B2C vs. B2B: unveiling differences, & core principles of B2C success.
A Sales Director leads a sales team, develops strategies, and is responsible for meeting a company's revenue targets.
A sales presentation is a formal pitch by a salesperson to a prospective customer, showcasing a product or service to secure a sale.
A Subject Matter Expert (SME) is an individual with profound knowledge and authority in a particular area, topic, or industry.
A Unique Selling Point (USP) is the distinct feature or benefit that sets your product, service, or brand apart from the competition.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is the total revenue a business expects from a customer throughout their entire relationship with the company.
Customer centricity is a business approach that puts the customer at the heart of every decision, aiming to build loyalty and long-term value.
The Challenger Sales model is a methodology where reps teach prospects, tailor their pitch, and take control of the sales conversation.
Smarketing is the process of aligning your sales and marketing teams. This integration focuses on shared goals to improve lead quality and drive revenue.
Workflow automation uses rule-based logic to run a sequence of tasks that would otherwise require manual human effort to complete.
A version control system (VCS) tracks changes to files over time, allowing you to recall specific versions and collaborate without conflicts.
Learn about B2B sales, including key strategies for B2B success, types of B2B sales models, & B2B vs. B2C sales: understanding the differences.
Segmentation analysis is the process of dividing a broad market into smaller, distinct groups of consumers with similar needs or characteristics.
Learn about bulk API, including how it works, the advantages of using it, common use cases, and tips for optimizing it.
Internal signals are data points from your own systems, like website visits or product usage, that indicate a customer's buying intent.
Programmatic display campaigns use automation to buy and sell digital ad space in real-time, targeting specific audiences across the web.
A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a secure, isolated section of a public cloud. It lets you provision your own logically isolated resources.
Learn about business continuity, including understanding key components, steps to ensure continuity, common challenges, & best practices.
Page views count the total number of times a page on your website is loaded. This metric is a key indicator of your site's overall traffic.
Consultative selling is an approach where salespeople act as expert advisors, diagnosing customer needs to provide the most suitable solutions.
Learn about bottom of the funnel, including maximizing conversions at the funnel's end, & strategies for nurturing bottom-funnel leads.
Deal closing is the final step in a sales cycle. It's when a prospect signs a contract and officially converts into a paying customer.
Predictive lead scoring uses AI to analyze data and rank leads by their likelihood to convert, helping sales teams prioritize their efforts.
An on-premise CRM is a system hosted on a company's own servers, offering complete control over data, security, and system maintenance.
A User Interface (UI) is the point where humans and computers interact. It encompasses all visual elements like screens, icons, and buttons.
Mobile app analytics involves collecting and analyzing data from mobile apps to understand user behavior and optimize the app's performance.
Lead generation tactics are the strategies and methods used to attract potential customers and convert them into leads for your sales team.
Lead scoring is the process of assigning points to leads based on their attributes and actions to determine their sales-readiness.
Customer segmentation is dividing customers into groups based on shared traits. This allows for more targeted and effective marketing efforts.
A triggered email is an automated message sent to a user in response to a specific action or event, like signing up or making a purchase.
A small to medium-sized business (SMB) is a company whose employee count and annual revenue fall below certain industry-specific thresholds.
A Value-Added Reseller (VAR) is a company that adds features or services to an existing product, then resells it as an integrated solution.
Learn about B2B2C, including benefits of B2B2C model, key strategies for B2B2C success, & B2B2C vs. B2C vs. B2B: understanding the differences.
CRM analytics is the process of analyzing data from your CRM to uncover insights that help you better understand and serve your customers.
User-generated content (UGC) refers to any form of content, like images, videos, or text, created and shared by users on online platforms.
Trade shows are events where companies in a specific industry showcase their latest products and services to find new customers and partners.
Lead response time is the duration between a potential customer showing interest and your team's first point of contact with them.
Voice search optimization is the process of optimizing your content, SEO, and online listings to appear in and rank for voice-based searches.
Account management is the post-sales practice of building and nurturing long-term relationships with a company's most valuable clients.
Enrichment is the process of adding third-party data to your existing customer profiles to get a more complete picture of your leads.
Multi-touch attribution is a marketing analytics method that credits multiple touchpoints on the customer journey for a conversion.
Load testing is a type of performance testing that determines how a system behaves under both normal and anticipated peak load conditions.
Net new business is revenue from customers who have never purchased from your company before. It’s a crucial indicator of sustainable growth.
A knowledge base is a self-serve online library of information about a product, service, department, or topic.
Remote sales is selling from a distance. Reps use digital tools to connect with prospects and close deals without meeting them in person.
Learn about brand awareness, including understanding its importance, building an effective strategy, key metrics to track, & examples in the real world.
Price optimization is the process of finding the ideal price for a product or service to maximize profitability or other business objectives.
Nurture is the process of building relationships with potential customers, guiding them through the sales funnel with personalized communication.
A custom API integration is a bespoke connection between software, enabling them to communicate and share data to meet unique business requirements.
ETL, short for Extract, Transform, Load, is a data integration process for moving raw data from various sources to a central data warehouse.
Sales metrics are quantifiable data points that track and measure a sales team's performance against specific goals and objectives.
End of Day (EOD) refers to the close of business hours. It's a common deadline for tasks and reports to be completed before the workday ends.
Persona-based marketing uses fictional customer profiles, or personas, to create targeted messaging for specific audience segments.
Sales acceleration refers to strategies and technologies designed to speed up the sales cycle, enabling reps to close more deals, faster.
Competitive intelligence (CI) is the ethical gathering and analysis of market data to inform strategic business decisions and gain an advantage.
A payment gateway is a service that authorizes and processes payments for businesses, acting as a secure link between the customer and the merchant.
A sales enablement platform centralizes content, training, and analytics to help sales teams engage buyers and effectively close deals.
Sales pipeline reporting is the process of analyzing sales data to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and forecast future revenue.
Lookalike audiences are groups of potential customers who share similar characteristics and behaviors with your existing, high-value customers.
Mobile compatibility ensures your site or app works flawlessly on mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, for a seamless user experience.
The buyer journey maps the path a potential customer takes, from first learning about a product to the final decision to buy.
Sales objections are reasons or concerns raised by a potential customer as to why they are hesitant or unwilling to make a purchase.
Sales prospecting techniques are methods used by sales teams to identify, contact, and qualify potential customers, also known as prospects.
A Salesforce Administrator is a certified professional who manages and customizes the Salesforce platform to meet a company's specific business needs.
A sales playbook is a guide that outlines your sales process, best practices, and tools to help reps sell more efficiently and consistently.
An Account Development Representative (ADR) identifies and qualifies new business opportunities, creating a pipeline for account executives.
CRM enrichment is the process of adding third-party data to your existing customer profiles to make them more complete and accurate.
Data cleansing, or data scrubbing, is the process of detecting and correcting inaccurate records from a dataset to improve data quality.
The buying cycle is the journey a customer takes from first realizing they have a need to making the final purchase decision.
Learn about brand loyalty, including how to build brand loyalty, benefits of brand loyalty, measuring brand loyalty, & strategies for increasing loyalty.
Sales prospecting software automates the process of finding, contacting, and tracking potential customers to help sales teams build their pipeline.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a system of integrated software that businesses use to manage and automate their core day-to-day processes.
Sales and marketing alignment means both teams work in sync, sharing goals and data to boost lead quality, conversions, and company revenue.
Data mining is the process of discovering patterns, trends, and useful information from large datasets to make better business decisions.
A sales territory is a specific group of customers or a geographic area that a salesperson or sales team is responsible for managing.
Learn about buyer, including identifying your ideal buyer, understanding buyer's journey, & evaluating buyer decision processes.
A demand generation framework is a strategic process for creating awareness and interest in your product, ultimately driving new business.
Cold calling is a sales tactic where reps contact potential customers by phone who haven't previously expressed interest in their product or service.
Channel partners are third-party firms that help market and sell a company's products or services, acting as an indirect sales force.
A Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) API is a web service that uses XML to exchange structured information between different applications.
A Single Page Application (SPA) is a web app that interacts with the user by dynamically rewriting the current page rather than loading new pages.
A sales pitch is a persuasive presentation of a product or service, aimed at convincing a potential customer to make a purchase.
AI marketing uses artificial intelligence to analyze data, automate decisions, and deliver personalized customer experiences at scale.
Sales partnerships are strategic alliances where two companies co-sell products to expand their reach, generate new leads, and increase revenue.
The buyer's journey maps the path a potential customer takes, from first becoming aware of a problem to making a final purchase decision.
Learn about B2B data erosion, including causes of B2B data decay, strategies to combat data erosion, & measuring the impact of data erosion.
AI data enrichment uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance and update raw data, making it more complete, accurate, and valuable.
An Operational CRM is a system that automates and improves customer-facing business processes like sales, marketing, and customer service.
Account-Based Analytics measures engagement and impact across target accounts, not just individual leads, to guide B2B sales and marketing efforts.
Closing ratio is a key sales metric that shows the percentage of leads or proposals that result in a successful sale.
Order management is the end-to-end process of tracking customer orders from placement to fulfillment, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
Outside sales reps sell products/services in person, traveling to meet clients and close deals face-to-face, outside of a traditional office.
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers that deliver web content to users based on their geographic location.
Sentiment analysis, or opinion mining, automatically determines the emotional tone behind text—whether it's positive, negative, or neutral.