Quick Answer
The answer is GET. According to HTTP semantics defined in RFC 7231, GET is both safe and idempotent because it is designed solely for resource retrieval without causing any side effects on the server, and making multiple identical requests yields the same result as a single request. On the Cisco DevNet Associate 200-901 exam, this concept tests your understanding of RESTful API design principles and HTTP method properties, often appearing in questions about idempotency guarantees or safe operations. A common trap is confusing PUT or DELETE as safe—they are idempotent but not safe, since they modify server state. Remember the memory tip: “GET is for getting, never changing; safe and idempotent, never rearranging.”
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of software development and design. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which HTTP method is considered both safe and idempotent?
POST
Why wrong: Incorrect: POST is neither safe nor idempotent.
PUT
Why wrong: Incorrect: PUT is idempotent but not safe.
PATCH
Why wrong: Incorrect: PATCH may not be idempotent.
GET
Correct: GET is safe and idempotent.
DELETE
Why wrong: Incorrect: DELETE is idempotent but not safe.
Answer choices
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 both safe and idempotent according to HTTP semantics (RFC 7231). Safe means it must not cause side effects on the server, and idempotent means multiple identical requests produce the same result as a single request. GET is designed solely for retrieval of a resource, so it satisfies both properties.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
POST
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: POST is neither safe nor idempotent.
PUT
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: PUT is idempotent but not safe.
PATCH
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: PATCH may not be idempotent.
GET
Why this is correct
Correct: GET is safe and idempotent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DELETE
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: DELETE is idempotent but not safe.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'safe' and 'idempotent' as separate properties, trapping candidates who assume that idempotent methods like PUT or DELETE are also safe, or that PATCH is idempotent because it modifies a resource.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, idempotence for PUT and DELETE is guaranteed by the server's handling of the same request multiple times—the resource state after the first request is the same as after subsequent requests. However, GET is the only method among the options that is both safe (no server state change) and idempotent (same representation returned for repeated requests). In RESTful APIs, safe methods like GET can be cached by intermediaries, reducing server load, while idempotent methods like PUT and DELETE are safe to retry on network failures without unintended side effects.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Software Development and Design — This question tests Software Development and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: GET — GET is both safe and idempotent according to HTTP semantics (RFC 7231). Safe means it must not cause side effects on the server, and idempotent means multiple identical requests produce the same result as a single request. GET is designed solely for retrieval of a resource, so it satisfies both properties.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.
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