mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
350-401 Practice Question: Which two statements about REST API HTTP methods…
Which two statements about REST API HTTP methods are true? (Choose two.)
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 is a safe method that must not change server state.
The correct answers are A and D. A is correct because GET is defined as a safe method that does not modify server state. D is correct because PUT is idempotent — multiple identical requests produce the same result. B is incorrect because POST is not idempotent; it often creates new resources. C is incorrect because DELETE is idempotent, not non-idempotent. E is incorrect because PATCH is typically non-idempotent unless applied carefully.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
GET is a safe method that must not change server state.
Why this is correct
Correct because GET is defined as safe and idempotent in REST.
- ✗
POST is idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests have the same effect.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because POST is not idempotent; it typically creates new resources.
- ✗
DELETE is non-idempotent and each request may have a different outcome.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because DELETE is idempotent; after the first deletion, subsequent requests return the same result.
- ✓
PUT is idempotent and replaces the entire resource at the target URI.
Why this is correct
Correct because PUT is idempotent and replaces the resource.
- ✗
PATCH is always idempotent because it uses a patch document.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because PATCH is not necessarily idempotent; it depends on the patch semantics.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Spine-Leaf and Software-Defined Network Architectures
Key term
REST API for Network Devices
A REST API for network devices is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate with routers, switches, and firewalls using standard web methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE over HTTP or HTTPS.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements about REST API HTTP methods are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.GET requests are idempotent and safe.
- B.POST requests are idempotent and safe.
- ✓ C.PUT requests are idempotent.
- D.DELETE requests are safe.
- E.PATCH requests are always idempotent.
Why A: In REST APIs, the GET method is used to retrieve a representation of a resource without side effects (idempotent and safe). The PUT method is used to update or create a resource at a specific URI and is idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests have the same effect as a single request. POST is not idempotent; it is typically used to create a new resource at a server-defined URI. DELETE is idempotent but not safe. PATCH is used for partial updates and is not necessarily idempotent.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.