200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
Which HTTP method is idempotent and used to update a resource by sending the full representation?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the confusion between PUT and PATCH, where candidates mistakenly think PUT can be used for partial updates, but the question specifically asks for 'full representation,' making PUT the only correct choice.
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
✓
PUT
PUT is idempotent because making the same request multiple times results in the same server state. It requires the client to send a full representation of the resource, replacing any existing resource at that URI. This aligns with RFC 7231, which defines PUT as a method that creates or replaces the target resource with the enclosed representation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
PUT
Why this is correct
PUT is idempotent: repeating the same request yields the same resource state. It replaces the target resource entirely with the enclosed representation, unlike PATCH, which applies partial modifications, or POST, which is neither idempotent nor a full replacement.
- ✗
DELETE
Why it's wrong here
DELETE removes the target resource and is idempotent, but it transmits no representation, so it cannot supply the full updated resource body. It is tempting because it is idempotent and acts on a known URI, yet its effect is removal, not replacement.
- ✗
POST
Why it's wrong here
POST submits data for processing and is neither idempotent nor safe, so repeating it can create duplicate side effects rather than replacing a resource. It is tempting because it does carry a body, but POST targets a collection or processor, not a full-representation replacement at a known URI.
- ✗
GET
Why it's wrong here
GET retrieves a resource representation and is safe and idempotent, but it carries no request body, so it cannot send a full updated representation. It is tempting because it is idempotent, yet that idempotence applies to retrieval; the required update semantics belong to PUT.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.