What is the main difference between a GET request and a POST request?

The main difference between a GET request and a POST request lies in their intended purposes and how they handle data. A GET request is designed to retrieve data from a server. It is typically used for requesting resources such as webpages or data without modifying them. It appends parameters to the URL, which means any information sent with the request is visible in the URL itself.

On the other hand, a POST request is intended for sending data to the server, often to create or update a resource. Unlike GET, it transmits data in the body of the request, which allows it to handle larger volumes of data and ensures that sensitive information is not exposed in the URL.

This fundamental role distinction allows GET requests to be considered safe and idempotent—meaning they can be repeated without changing the state of the resource—while POST requests are used for operations that may modify server state or create resources. Thus, understanding that a GET request retrieves data while a POST request sends data is key to grasping their main difference.