By default, web clients use URLs and HTTP methods to exchange data with controls on the connector pane of HTTP method VIs. For example, if you create an HTTP method VI that contains two numeric controls assigned to the connector pane, a web client can send values to those controls using a URL or HTTP method. The HTTP method VI can then return a response such as the sum of the numeric controls. The default response format is a JSON string. The JSON string includes a summary of the indicator values assigned to the connector pane of the HTTP method VI. You can configure the response format to return data as an XML-, HTML-, or plain text-formatted response. Configure the response format type on the HTTP Method VI Settings page of the Web Service Properties dialog box.

HTML forms, web browsers, the HTTP Client VIs, and HTTP-capable third-party applications can exchange data with HTTP method VIs using HTTP methods.

Note Each time a client reconnects to an HTTP method VI, such as when it refreshes the browser, the client sends a new HTTP request.

HTTP Methods

Web services support four standard HTTP methods used in web communication:

• POST—Use to send data and upload files. You can use a common HTML form or other compatible client to submit information, known as POST data, via the POST method.
• GET—Use to retrieve data from a Web service.
• PUT—Serves as an alternative method to POST for uploading files. Under RESTful design, PUT and POST have different use cases.
• DELETE—Use to instruct the Web service to delete a specified resource.

Refer to the World Wide Web Consortium at www.w3.org for more information about HTTP method definitions, including the POST, GET, PUT, and DELETE methods.

Related Information

• Understanding URL Mapping in Web Services
• Sending Data to a Deployed Application using URLs
• Using the POST HTTP Method
• Uploading Files using Web Services
• Understanding the Web Services Architecture and File Locations

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