200-901 Understanding and Using APIs Practice Question
What HTTP method should be used to update only the description field of a network device resource via a REST API?
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
✓
PATCH
PATCH is used for partial updates, whereas PUT replaces the entire resource. GET retrieves, POST creates, DELETE removes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DELETE
Why it's wrong here
DELETE removes the entire device resource; it cannot modify a single field. PATCH is the method for partial updates, sending only the description. DELETE is tempting because it targets a specific resource URI, but its semantics are removal, not field-level modification.
- ✗
PUT
Why it's wrong here
PUT replaces the entire resource representation, so omitted fields such as hostname or IP would be overwritten or cleared; the stem requires updating only the description. PATCH exists precisely for partial modification. PUT is tempting because it is the standard method for full updates and works correctly when the client sends the complete resource.
- ✗
POST
Why it's wrong here
POST creates a new subordinate resource or submits data for processing; applied to an existing device URI it typically replaces or appends rather than partially updating. PATCH performs the partial modification. POST is tempting because it carries a request body, but it lacks PATCH's defined partial-update semantics.
- ✓
PATCH
Why this is correct
PATCH applies a partial modification, sending only the description field in the request body while leaving all other device attributes untouched. PUT would replace the entire resource representation, risking unintended overwrites of unmentioned fields. This satisfies the stem's constraint of updating solely the description.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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