Response and Methods

Viewing the Response:

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The response will appear in the lower pane. It should be a JSON array of book objects. The specific books may vary as the database is live and updated by other users.

Understanding Request Methods (HTTP Verbs):

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Request methods define the action to be performed on the server. Common methods include:

• GET: Retrieve data (Read).
• POST: Send data (Create).
• PUT: Update data (Update - usually replaces the entire resource).
• PATCH: Update data (Update - typically for partial updates).
• DELETE: Delete data (Delete).

Always consult the API documentation for the correct method to use for a specific endpoint.

Understanding Request URLs:

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A request URL specifies the location of the API endpoint. It has three parts:

• Protocol: https:// (or http://)
• Host: library-api.postmanlabs.com
• Path: /books

The combination of host and path is often referred to as the API endpoint.

Understanding Response Status Codes:

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Status codes indicate the outcome of a request.

• 2xx Success: e.g., 200 OK, 201 Created, 204 No Content.
• 3xx Redirection: e.g., 301 Moved Permanently.
• 4xx Client Error: e.g., 400 Bad Request, 401 Unauthorized, 404 Not Found.
• 5xx Server Error: e.g., 500 Internal Server Error.

Hover over the status code in Postman to see its description.

The Request-Response Pattern:

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This is the fundamental communication model in web APIs:

1. Client (Postman in this case) sends a request over the network.
2. Server receives the request, processes it, and generates a response.
3. Server sends the response back to the client over the network.