CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
Which HTTP method is commonly used to retrieve information from a REST API without modifying the resource?
⚠ Common exam trap
Do not confuse retrieval with modification. GET retrieves data without altering the resource, unlike POST, PUT, or DELETE.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
GET
GET is the standard HTTP method for retrieving a resource representation without changing the resource.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
POST
Why it's wrong here
POST submits data to the server for processing, often to create a subordinate resource, and it is not idempotent — multiple identical POSTs can create multiple resources. Its response typically contains a status code and location header, not a fetched representation, so it is unsuitable for retrieving information. Unlike GET, POST is designed to send a payload that causes side effects on the server.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask which HTTP method is commonly used to send data to a REST API for creating a new resource, then POST would be the correct answer. This would align with the intended use of the method.
- ✓
GET
Why this is correct
The GET method is designed to retrieve a representation of a specified resource — it is safe, meaning it never changes server state, and idempotent, so multiple identical requests produce the same result. In RESTful APIs, GET is the standard operation for querying or fetching information, and it typically carries no request body, with all parameters in the URL query string.
- ✗
PUT
Why it's wrong here
PUT replaces or creates a resource at a specific URI using the request body, making it the wrong method for retrieval because it focuses on state modification, not data access. It is idempotent, so repeated PUTs produce the same state, but it never returns the resource's data in the response as a primary purpose. Clients use it to upload or update representations, not to read them.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks which HTTP method is used to update a resource on a REST API, the correct answer would be PUT. For example, 'Which HTTP method would you use to update the details of a user profile in a REST API?' would make PUT the right choice.
- ✗
DELETE
Why it's wrong here
DELETE is an unsafe but idempotent method used to remove a specified resource from the server, making it the wrong choice for retrieving information. A successful DELETE response indicates the resource has been deleted, and subsequent requests for that resource will return a 404 Not Found rather than data. Its purpose is destructive, not informational.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different exam scenario, a question might ask which HTTP method is used to remove a resource from a REST API, with options including POST, GET, PUT, and DELETE. In this case, DELETE would be the correct answer.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓GETCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The GET method is designed to retrieve a representation of a specified resource — it is safe, meaning it never changes server state, and idempotent, so multiple identical requests produce the same result. In RESTful APIs, GET is the standard operation for querying or fetching information, and it typically carries no request body, with all parameters in the URL query string.
✗POSTWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
POST is used to create a new resource or submit data to be processed, which often results in a change in server state. It is not idempotent and is not designed for retrieval without modification.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask which HTTP method is commonly used to send data to a REST API for creating a new resource, then POST would be the correct answer. This would align with the intended use of the method.
Why candidates choose this
POST is a common HTTP method, and students might think it can be used to retrieve data because it can send data to the server, but the primary purpose is creation or submission, not safe retrieval.
✗PUTWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
PUT is used to update or replace an existing resource, which modifies the resource. It is not a safe or idempotent method for retrieval without side effects.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks which HTTP method is used to update a resource on a REST API, the correct answer would be PUT. For example, 'Which HTTP method would you use to update the details of a user profile in a REST API?' would make PUT the right choice.
Why candidates choose this
PUT is often associated with updating resources, and students might mistakenly believe it can retrieve data because it targets a specific resource URI, but its operation is modification, not retrieval.
✗DELETEWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DELETE is used to remove a resource, not retrieve it. Using DELETE would modify the resource by deleting it, which contradicts the requirement of not modifying the resource.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different exam scenario, a question might ask which HTTP method is used to remove a resource from a REST API, with options including POST, GET, PUT, and DELETE. In this case, DELETE would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse DELETE with a method that retrieves information because both involve accessing a resource, but DELETE's purpose is removal, not retrieval.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Related to this question
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Agentic AI in Network Operations
Key term
API
An API is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other.
Key term
REST API
A REST API is a set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet using standard HTTP methods.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.