The PATCH method in the HTTP protocol is used to update an existing resource by providing only the changes or differences between the original and updated versions. It is similar to the PUT method, which replaces the entire resource with an updated version, but with the PATCH method, only the modified fields or portions of the resource are sent in the request.
The PATCH request includes a set of instructions in the message body that specify how to modify the resource. These instructions can be in various formats, such as JSON Patch or XML Patch, that define the specific changes to be made. The server processes the request and makes the necessary modifications to the resource. The response may include a representation of the updated resource or a status code indicating the success or failure of the request.
The PATCH method is useful in situations where you want to make small updates to a resource without having to send the entire resource, which can be time-consuming, especially for large resources. It also allows multiple clients to make changes to the same resource without overwriting each other’s changes.
