200-901 Understanding and Using APIs Practice Question
A network engineer is using the Cisco Meraki Dashboard API to retrieve a list of organizations. The API returns a JSON array. Which HTTP method should be used to fetch this list?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any API interaction requires POST, overlooking that simple data retrieval uses GET.
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
The GET method is designed for retrieving data from a specified resource. In the context of the Meraki Dashboard API, listing organizations is a read-only operation, so GET is the correct choice. GET requests should not have side effects, ensuring that repeated calls do not alter the state of the server. This aligns with REST principles and the Meraki API documentation, which specifies GET for all retrieval endpoints.
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 is used to create new resources or submit data to be processed. For example, creating a new organization or network would use POST. However, fetching a list of organizations does not create anything; it merely retrieves existing data. Using POST would be semantically incorrect and could lead to unexpected behavior, such as creating duplicate resources if the endpoint interprets the request as a creation attempt.
- ✓
GET
Why this is correct
GET is the correct HTTP method for retrieving data from a REST API. The Meraki Dashboard API uses GET for read operations, such as listing organizations, networks, or devices. It is safe and idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests have the same effect as a single one. Using GET ensures the engineer obtains the list without modifying any server state, which is essential for data retrieval.
- ✗
PUT
Why it's wrong here
PUT is used to update an existing resource or create it if it does not exist, by replacing the entire resource. It is not used for simple retrieval. In the Meraki API, PUT is employed for updating configurations, such as changing a network's name. Using PUT to fetch a list would be incorrect and could inadvertently modify data if the endpoint were misconfigured, though typically it would return an error.
- ✗
DELETE
Why it's wrong here
DELETE is used to remove a resource. It is clearly not appropriate for retrieving a list of organizations. Using DELETE would attempt to delete the organizations, which is destructive and likely unauthorized. The Meraki API uses DELETE for operations like removing a network or device. Therefore, DELETE is entirely wrong for a read operation and could cause data loss if mistakenly used.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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