PUT vs PATCH

 In Node.js, when working with APIs and handling HTTP requests, the PUT and PATCH methods are used to update resources on the server.

Here's a breakdown of the differences between PUT and PATCH:

PUT method:

The PUT method is used to completely replace an existing resource or create a

new resource if it doesn't exist.

When making a PUT request, the entire representation of the resource is sent

in the request payload. This means that you need to send all the properties of

the resource, including the ones that are not being updated.

If the resource exists, the server replaces it with the new representation

sent in the request payload. If the resource doesn't exist, the server creates

a new resource with the provided representation.

It's idempotent, meaning that multiple PUT requests with the same payload will

have the same effect. Repeatedly sending the same PUT request will result in the same resource state.

PATCH method:

The PATCH method is used to partially update an existing resource.

When making a PATCH request, only the specific properties that need to be

updated are sent in the request payload. The server applies the provided updates to the existing resource, leaving the rest of the resource unchanged.

Unlike PUT, PATCH allows for partial updates, meaning that you can send

only the fields that need to be modified rather than sending the entire

resource.

PATCH requests are not necessarily idempotent. Multiple PATCH requests with

the same payload may have different effects depending on how the server handles

the updates.

The choice between PUT and PATCH depends on the specific requirements of

your application and the API design principles you are following. If you want

to completely replace the resource or create a new one, use PUT. If you want

to perform partial updates on an existing resource, use PATCH.