In REST (Representational State Transfer), idempotency refers to the property of specific HTTP methods where repeated identical requests have the same effect as a single request. In other words, performing an idempotent operation multiple times produces the same result as if it were done once.
Idempotent methods in REST ensure that even if a request is duplicated or retried due to network issues or client behavior, the system remains in the same state and does not produce unintended side effects. Idempotent methods are designed to be safe for retries without causing inconsistencies or unexpected behavior.
The following HTTP methods are considered idempotent in REST.
- GET: Retrieving a resource multiple times does not change the server's state.
- PUT: Updating a resource with the same data multiple times produces the same result.
- DELETE: Deleting a resource multiple times results in the same outcome.
Designing idempotent methods in RESTful APIs helps ensure reliability, consistency, and fault tolerance in distributed systems, allowing for robust and predictable behavior.
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