RE: GET, POST, and side-effects

David W. Morris writes:
 > 
 > 
 > On Thu, 4 Jan 1996, Paul Leach wrote:
 > 
 > > I agree -- a POST in general has to go back to the origin server. 
 > > Although see my "sine server" for a case where it doesn't.
 > 
 > I must be truly dense ... why wouldn't the sine server be implemented
 > with GET?
 > 

It's mostly a thought experiment.  Due primarily to URL length
limitations, POST is often used where GET would semantically be sufficient.

 > By choosing the FORM's method, the author is declaring the expected 
 > side-effects from FORM submission. A GET can easily be a complex data
 > base search so a FORM with METHOD=GET is quite rational.
 > 

URL length is a practical consideration that muddies this issue.

--Shel

Received on Friday, 5 January 1996 20:23:28 UTC