SE452: GET vs. POST [2003/09/30]

The form data is submitted as part of the HTTP request as a sequence of URL-encoded name-value pairs.

Data needs to be URL encoded, since certain characters that can be submitted as part of a request aren't allowed in a URL (like a space for example...)

The GET method encodes the name-value pairs onto the request URI (i.e. Visible in the Location of the browser)

The POST method encodes the name-value pairs in the message body of the request. (invisible to the user, but not encrypted)

GET is the default method

Here is an example HTML form:

And the source to make it:


        
 <html>
 <head><title>Login Page</title></head>
 <body>
    <form method="post" action="/se452/login">
        <h4>Enter your User ID and Password and click Login</h4>
        <table cellpadding='2' cellspacing='1'>
            <tr>
                <td>User ID</td>
                <td><input type="TEXT" size="15" name="userid"></input></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Password</td>
                <td><input type="PASSWORD" size="15" name="password"/></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td colspan='2'>
                    <center><input type="SUBMIT" value="Login" /></center> 
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
    </form>
</body>
</html>