Difference Between PUT and PATCH: Key Distinctions for API Development

EllieB

Imagine you’re fine-tuning a masterpiece, carefully choosing whether to replace an entire section or just tweak a small detail. In the world of APIs, that’s exactly what PUT and PATCH let you do. These two HTTP methods might seem similar at first glance, but their subtle differences can make or break the efficiency of your application.

Think of PUT as a complete overhaul—it replaces the entire resource, like repainting a wall from top to bottom. PATCH, on the other hand, is more like touching up a small scratch, making precise adjustments without disturbing the whole. Understanding when to use each isn’t just a technicality; it’s a powerful tool for optimizing performance and ensuring seamless functionality.

So, how do you decide between these two? Let’s jump into their distinct roles and uncover how they can transform the way you handle updates in your API workflows.

Understanding HTTP Methods

HTTP methods define how clients interact with server resources. Each method performs a distinct operation, crucial for designing effective APIs.

GET accesses data from a server without modifying it. For example, retrieving a user profile or searching for products.
POST submits new data to the server. This could be creating a new user account or uploading a file.
PUT updates a resource fully. For instance, replacing all details of a user’s profile.
PATCH modifies part of a resource. Changing a user’s email but keeping other details intact illustrates this.
DELETE removes a resource. Deleting a user’s account is one application of this method.

Your choice of HTTP method affects data accuracy and server performance. Use PATCH when partial updates suffice; otherwise, PUT offers complete replacement.

What Is PUT?

PUT is an HTTP method used to update or create a resource on a server. It replaces the entire resource with the data provided in the request body, ensuring consistency in resource representation.

Key Features Of PUT

Idempotency: PUT requests are idempotent, meaning the result is the same regardless of how many times the request is made. For example, sending a PUT request twice to update a user profile won’t change the outcome after the first execution.
Complete Replacement: PUT overwrites the entire resource. For instance, if a resource contains “name” and “email” fields and you provide only “name” in the request, the “email” field would be removed.
Resource Uniformity: PUT uses a fixed URI to create or update a resource. When you send data to “https://example.com/users/123”, the server expects the provided data to match the structure of the target resource.
Specific Resource Updates: PUT either creates a new resource if it doesn’t exist or modifies it completely if it’s already present. Including all fields in the data payload ensures no unintended removal of fields.

Use Cases For PUT

Profile Updates: PUT is ideal when you need to update a user’s entire profile, such as name, contact number, and bio. If one field is left out in the payload, the corresponding data on the server will be nullified.
Configuration Files: Systems often use PUT to update complete configuration files for services or applications. Each request replaces the existing file, ensuring a consistent state.
Inventory Management: When updating product details like pricing, SKU, and stock levels in an inventory system, PUT ensures complete synchronization, preventing missing attributes.
Data Synchronization: PUT can synchronize large datasets between systems, where each incoming request aligns the destination resource with the provided data.

Avoid using PUT for partial updates to prevent unnecessary data overwrites or field deletions. For finer adjustments, PATCH is typically the better option.

What Is PATCH?

PATCH, defined under the HTTP protocol, modifies part of a resource rather than replacing it entirely. It’s efficient for partial updates, reducing payload size and minimizing server processing.

Key Features Of PATCH

Partial Updates: PATCH updates specific fields or attributes without impacting others. For example, updating a user’s email without altering their name or password.
Non-Idempotency: Unlike PUT, PATCH isn’t strictly idempotent. Multiple identical PATCH requests may yield different results depending on the resource’s state.
Efficiency: PATCH requests often have smaller payloads, improving performance when only minor changes are necessary.
RFC Standards: It’s supported by RFC 5789, ensuring compatibility in RESTful APIs. But, its implementation depends on API design.

Use Cases For PATCH

User Profile Updates: Adjust a single profile attribute, like updating a profile picture while retaining existing information.
Settings Adjustments: Modify application settings, such as enabling notifications, without overwriting unrelated preferences.
Inventory Management: Update stock counts for specific items while maintaining other item details untouched.
Content Editing: Revise specific parts of a document or database entry, such as changing a blog title without affecting the content.

PATCH optimizes workflows by targeting specific resource elements. When complete replacement isn’t necessary, PATCH ensures updates are precise and resource-efficient.

Difference Between PUT And PATCH

PUT and PATCH are HTTP methods used to update resources on a server, but they vary significantly in their approach, functionality, and impact. Understanding their distinctions enhances API efficiency and ensures accurate data handling.

Key Similarities

Purpose: Both PUT and PATCH serve to modify existing resources in an API. For example, you could use PUT to completely replace a user profile, while PATCH might adjust only the profile picture.
HTTP Request Methods: Both belong to the set of RESTful API methods, supporting data updates and enhancing resource management efficiency.
Authentication: Both typically require the same levels of authentication for secure implementation, aligning with API authorization policies.

Key Differences

Scope of Update: PUT replaces the entire resource, even if only specific fields are included in the request body. In contrast, PATCH updates only the fields you provide, leaving others unchanged. For instance, using PUT to change a user’s email would require sending all profile details, while PATCH alters just the email.
Payload Size: The payload for PUT is often larger since it transmits the entire resource. PATCH, with its partial updates, optimizes performance by reducing payload size.
Idempotency: PUT is idempotent, ensuring repeated requests yield identical server states, assuming the provided data is the same. PATCH, but, isn’t always idempotent, meaning repeated identical requests may result in different outcomes depending on the operation.
Implementation Complexity: PATCH’s partial updates involve more complex implementation. Both server and client must handle field-specific updates effectively, which can vary depending on API design.
Use Cases: PUT is ideal for scenarios like full document uploads or replacing configuration files. PATCH fits partial data updates like correcting typos in articles or updating a single field in user settings.

Comparison Factor	PUT	PATCH
Update Type	Full resource replacement	Partial resource modifications
Payload Size	Larger, includes all fields	Smaller, only updated fields
Idempotency	Idempotent	Non-idempotent
Efficiency	Less efficient for minor updates	Highly efficient for partial updates

Understanding these differences guides you in selecting the appropriate method based on the update’s scope and resource impacts, ensuring optimal API performance.

When To Use PUT Vs PATCH

Use PUT when you need to replace an entire resource. For instance, if you’re updating a user profile, and all fields—like name, email, phone, and address—are provided in the request, PUT ensures the resource is entirely overwritten with new data. It guarantees idempotency, meaning multiple identical requests don’t create duplicate or conflicting data.

Use PATCH for partial updates. A typical example includes modifying only the email address in a user’s profile without altering other fields. PATCH is more efficient because it sends smaller payloads, minimizing bandwidth usage and reducing server processing time. But, since PATCH isn’t idempotent, identical requests may produce different results depending on the current state of the resource.

Consider additional factors such as your API’s design. If consistency and predictability are priorities, PUT may align better with your goals. On the other hand, PATCH offers flexibility and is often useful for reducing API request sizes in applications dealing with limited network resources.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between PUT and PATCH is essential for designing efficient and reliable APIs. By choosing the right method for the task at hand, you can optimize performance, reduce resource usage, and maintain data integrity. Whether you’re aiming for complete updates with PUT or targeted modifications with PATCH, aligning your approach with your application’s needs ensures smoother workflows and better user experiences.