What is the Difference Between GET and POST Method in PHP?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between the GET and POST methods in PHP lies in their purpose and the way they send data to the server. Here are the key differences:
- Purpose: GET requests are used to retrieve data from a server without modifying the server's state, while POST requests are used to send data to the server for processing and may modify the server's state.
- Data Transmission: GET method sends data through the resource URL, which is limited in length, while the POST method sends data through the HTTP message body, which has no such limitation.
- Data Type: GET method supports only string data types, while the POST method supports different data types such as string, numeric, binary, and so on.
- Security: GET is less secure compared to POST because data sent is part of the URL, making it visible in the browser's address bar and exposing it in browser history and cache. POST is more secure because the data is not exposed in the URL bar.
- Cacheability: GET requests are often cacheable, while POST requests are not.
In summary, the GET method is generally used to request data from a specified resource, such as HTML documents, images, and videos, and is more suitable for fetching data without modifying the server's state. The POST method, on the other hand, is used to send data to the server for processing, often for creating or updating resources, and is more secure than the GET method.
Comparative Table: GET vs POST Method in PHP
Here is a table comparing the differences between the GET and POST methods in PHP:
| Feature | GET Method | POST Method |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Retrieve data from a server without modifying its state | Send data to the server for processing and may modify the server's state |
| Data Visibility | Values are visible in the URL | Values are not visible in the URL |
| Length Limitation | Limited to a maximum number of characters (generally 255) | No limitation on the length of the values since they are submitted via the body of the HTTP |
| Data Types | Supports only string data types | Supports different data types, such as string, numeric, binary, etc. |
| Cacheability | GET requests are often cacheable | POST requests are hardly cacheable |
| Browser History | Requests are stored in browser history | Requests are not stored in browser history |
| Bookmarking | Can be saved as a bookmark in the browser | Cannot be saved as a bookmark in the browser |
| Security | Less secure because the data is exposed in the URL bar | More secure because the data is not exposed in the URL bar |
| Usage | Suitable for sending non-sensitive data | Suitable for sending sensitive data, such as passwords, and binary data |
In summary, the GET method is used to retrieve data from a server without modifying its state, and the POST method is used to send data to the server for processing and may modify the server's state. The choice between the two methods depends on factors such as data sensitivity, length, and cacheability.