Explore the essential concepts of HTTP and REST through questions about methods, status codes, and principles. This quiz is designed to reinforce your understanding of crucial web communication protocols and REST architecture basics.
Which HTTP method is commonly used to retrieve data from a server without making any changes to it?
Explanation: The GET method is used to request data from a server and does not alter the resource or its state. PUT is meant for updating or replacing a resource, DELETE is used to remove a resource, and PATCH is utilized to make partial updates. Only GET does not change the server-side data, making it the most appropriate choice here.
Which of the following HTTP methods is considered 'safe' because it should not modify the resource on the server?
Explanation: GET is classified as a safe method because it is intended for data retrieval without side effects on server data. POST is not safe since it creates or processes data. CONNECT and TRACE are not considered safe either; CONNECT is used for proxy tunnels and TRACE for diagnostic purposes, both of which can have side effects.
In REST architecture, which term describes the data format used for transferring information about a resource, such as JSON or XML?
Explanation: A 'representation' refers to the format (like JSON or XML) in which the state of a resource is transferred between client and server. An identifier usually means the unique name or path of the resource. Decorator and mutation are unrelated terms in REST; decorator refers to a design pattern and mutation involves changing data.
What does the HTTP status code 404 indicate when accessing a resource?
Explanation: The 404 status code stands for 'Resource Not Found,' meaning the server cannot locate the requested resource. 200 OK indicates a successful response, 301 Moved Permanently means the resource has been moved, and 500 Internal Server Error signals a generic error on the server side.
Which HTTP method is idempotent, meaning that making the same request multiple times will have the same effect as making it once?
Explanation: PUT is idempotent because updating a resource with the same data repeatedly doesn't change the outcome after the first update. POST is not idempotent since it usually creates new resources each time. CONNECT is mainly for establishing network tunnels, not resource operations. OPTION is a typo for OPTIONS, which is used to describe communication options but isn't primarily about resource modification.
In a typical HTTP request, which part contains information such as the browser type and accepted languages?
Explanation: The header section of an HTTP request includes meta-information like the client type and accepted languages. The body contains the payload data, status line is specific to HTTP responses, and footer is not a standard part of HTTP requests or responses.
Which REST principle requires that each client request contains all the information needed for the server to process it, without relying on previous requests?
Explanation: Statelessness ensures that every request provides all necessary information, allowing the server to process requests independently. Cacheability relates to storing responses, layered system refers to the hierarchical structuring of servers, and encapsulation is a programming concept not specific to REST.
Which category best describes HTTP status codes in the 4xx range, such as 403 or 404?
Explanation: 4xx status codes indicate client errors, meaning the request contains issues such as unauthorized access or missing resources. 2xx codes indicate success, 3xx are for redirection, and 5xx represent server errors.
What is typically used in RESTful services to uniquely identify and access a specific resource?
Explanation: A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is used in RESTful systems to uniquely locate and access resources. Cookies are employed for storing user information, gateway refers to a network service, and session IDs track user sessions but do not directly identify resources.
Which statement best describes how REST and HTTP are related?
Explanation: REST is an architectural style that often uses HTTP as its underlying protocol for transferring data. HTTP is not a subset of REST; rather, REST leverages HTTP features. REST and HTTP are not competitors, and REST does not replace HTTP but builds on its capabilities.