Question 1

What is an HTTP Request Builder?

Accepted Answer

An HTTP Request Builder is a tool that allows you to construct and send HTTP requests to any API endpoint. It provides a user-friendly interface to configure request methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.), add headers, set authentication, include request bodies, and view responses. It's commonly used for API testing, debugging, and integration development.

Question 2

When should I use GET vs POST requests?

Accepted Answer

Use GET requests to retrieve data from a server without modifying it. GET requests are idempotent (calling them multiple times has the same effect) and should not have side effects. Use POST requests to create new resources or submit data that changes server state. POST requests can include a request body with data, while GET requests only use URL parameters. GET requests are cached by browsers, while POST requests are not.

Question 3

How do I add authentication to my HTTP requests?

Accepted Answer

The tool supports three common authentication types: 1) Bearer Token - Add your token and it will be sent as "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" header, commonly used for OAuth 2.0 and JWT authentication. 2) Basic Auth - Enter username and password, which are Base64 encoded and sent as "Authorization: Basic ENCODED_CREDENTIALS". 3) API Key - Specify the header name (like X-API-Key) and value, commonly used by custom APIs. Always use HTTPS when sending credentials to protect them from interception.

Question 4

What are HTTP headers and why do I need them?

Accepted Answer

HTTP headers are key-value pairs sent with requests and responses that provide metadata about the HTTP transaction. Common request headers include: Content-Type (specifies the format of your request body, like application/json), Accept (tells the server what response format you prefer), Authorization (authentication credentials), and User-Agent (identifies your client). Headers control caching, compression, CORS, and many other HTTP features.

Question 5

When should I use JSON vs Form Data for request bodies?

Accepted Answer

Use JSON (application/json) for modern REST APIs as it supports complex nested data structures and is easy to parse. JSON is the standard for API communication. Use Form Data (multipart/form-data) when uploading files or when the API specifically requires it. Use URL Encoded (application/x-www-form-urlencoded) for traditional HTML form submissions with simple key-value pairs. Check the API documentation to see which format is required.

Question 6

How can I test an API that requires CORS?

Accepted Answer

CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) is a browser security feature that can block requests to different domains. If you encounter CORS errors: 1) The API server must include proper CORS headers (Access-Control-Allow-Origin). 2) For development, you can use a CORS proxy or browser extension. 3) This tool runs in the browser, so it's subject to CORS restrictions. For testing without CORS limitations, use the generated cURL command in your terminal or use server-side code.

Question 7

What HTTP status codes mean and how to interpret them?

Accepted Answer

2xx codes (green) indicate success: 200 OK (successful GET), 201 Created (successful POST), 204 No Content (successful DELETE). 3xx codes (blue) are redirects. 4xx codes (yellow/orange) are client errors: 400 Bad Request (invalid data), 401 Unauthorized (missing/invalid auth), 403 Forbidden (no permission), 404 Not Found (resource doesn't exist). 5xx codes (red) are server errors: 500 Internal Server Error, 502 Bad Gateway, 503 Service Unavailable. For detailed information about each code, use our HTTP Status Codes tool.

Question 8

How do I debug a failing API request?

Accepted Answer

Follow these steps: 1) Check the response status code and error message. 2) Verify the URL is correct and accessible. 3) Confirm you're using the right HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.). 4) Validate your request body JSON syntax. 5) Check required headers are present (Content-Type, Authorization). 6) Review authentication credentials. 7) Look for CORS errors in browser console. 8) Compare your request with the API documentation. 9) Use the Code tab to generate a cURL command and test from terminal. 10) Check the Response Headers for clues about the error.

Question 9

Can I use this tool to test my local development API?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can send requests to localhost or any local network address (like http://localhost:3000 or http://192.168.1.10:8080). However, if your API and this tool are on different ports, you may encounter CORS issues. To solve this: 1) Add CORS headers to your local API server. 2) Use the generated cURL command in your terminal instead. 3) Configure your local API to allow requests from the domain hosting this tool. Local development APIs accessed via HTTP (not HTTPS) work fine with this tool.

Question 10

What is the difference between PUT and PATCH requests?

Accepted Answer

PUT requests replace the entire resource with the data you send - you must include all fields even if they're unchanged. PUT is idempotent (calling it multiple times has the same effect). PATCH requests partially update a resource - you only send the fields you want to change. PATCH is more efficient for updating individual fields. Example: PUT to /users/123 would require sending the complete user object, while PATCH to /users/123 only needs {"email": "new@email.com"} to update just the email. Check your API documentation to see which method is supported.

Format	Content-Type	When to Use
JSON	application/json	Modern REST APIs, complex data structures, nested objects/arrays
Form Data	multipart/form-data	File uploads, binary data, mixed text and files
URL Encoded	application/x-www-form-urlencoded	Traditional HTML form submissions, simple key-value pairs
Raw/Text	text/plain, text/xml, etc.	XML, plain text, custom formats, SOAP APIs

HTTP Request Builder

Request

Query Parameters

Headers

Authentication

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Understanding HTTP Request Methods

GET

POST

PUT

PATCH

DELETE

HEAD

Common Use Cases for HTTP Request Builder

Quick Start Examples

Example 1: Simple GET Request

Example 2: POST Request with JSON Body

Example 3: Authenticated API Request

Request Body Formats Explained

HTTP vs HTTPS: Security Considerations

⚠️ Important Security Notes

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

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