Why is using a HTTP GET to update state on the server in a RESTful call incorrect?

Question

OK, I know already all the reasons on paper why I should not use a HTTP GET when making a RESTful call to update the state of something on the server. Thus returning possibly different data each time. And I know this is wrong for the following 'on paper' reasons:

• HTTP GET calls should be idempotent
• N > 0 calls should always GET the same data back
• Violates HTTP spec
• HTTP GET call is typically read-only

And I am sure there are more reasons. But I need a concrete simple example for justification other than "Well, that violates the HTTP Spec!". ...or at least I am hoping for one. I have also already read the following which are more along the lines of the list above: Does it violate the RESTful when I write stuff to the server on a GET call? & HTTP POST with URL query parameters -- good idea or not?

For example, can someone justify the above and why it is wrong/bad practice/incorrect to use a HTTP GET say with the following RESTful call

"MyRESTService/GetCurrentRecords?UpdateRecordID=5&AddToTotalAmount=10"

I know it's wrong, but hopefully it will help provide an example to answer my original question. So the above would update recordID = 5 with AddToTotalAmount = 10 and then return the updated records. I know a POST should be used, but let's say I did use a GET.

How exactly and to answer my question does or can this cause an actual problem? Other than all the violations from the above bullet list, how can using a HTTP GET to do the above cause some real issue? Too many times I come into a scenario where I can justify things with "Because the doc said so", but I need justification and a better understanding on this one.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The practical case where you will have a problem is that the HTTP GET is often retried in the event of a failure by the HTTP implementation. So you can in real life get situations where the same GET is received multiple times by the server. If your update is idempotent (which yours is), then there will be no problem, but if it's not idempotent (like adding some value to an amount for example), then you could get multiple (undesired) updates.

HTTP POST is never retried, so you would never have this problem.

Answer 2

If some form of search engine spiders your site it could change your data unintentionally.

This happened in the past with Google's Desktop Search that caused people to lose data because people had implemented delete operations as GETs.