HTTP PATCH support in browsers

rest http-patch
java_geek picture java_geek · Jun 17, 2014 · Viewed 13.2k times · Source

I am designing REST endpoints for my application and i need to use PATCH for a few of the endpoints. Will all browsers that support HTTP/1.1 be able to support the PATCH ?

Answer

thecoshman picture thecoshman · Jun 17, 2014

HTTP/1.1 did not define the PATCH method.

HTTP/1.1 does leave itself open for clients and/or servers to add new methods.

RFC 5789 defined the conventions for using the PATCH method.

The method defined within a HTTP request is nothing more than a string. Browsers should allow JavaScript to use whatever HTTP method it wants in the XmlHttpRequest; see this Q&A for more info. In short, any modern browser will allow you to do this, i.e. IE9+ and Firefox/Chrome/Safari/Opera/Spartan from the last few years.

Also, don't forget the server needs to specifically handle the PATCH method too, it doesn't just magically happen.

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