How to send PUT, DELETE HTTP request in HttpURLConnection?

java

httpclient

http-requests

best-practices

byAlex Kataev·Feb 21, 2025

To execute PUT or DELETE requests with Java's HttpURLConnection, utilize the setRequestMethod("PUT") or setRequestMethod("DELETE"). Here's a fast-track example for both:

PUT request:

HttpURLConnection conn = (HttpURLConnection) new URL("http://example.com/resource").openConnection();
conn.setRequestMethod("PUT"); // Sending a PUT request
conn.setDoOutput(true); // For sending data
OutputStreamWriter writer = new OutputStreamWriter(conn.getOutputStream());
writer.write("data=example"); // Replace with your data (Remember, 'PUT' an effort into your data! 😉)
writer.close(); // Always practice closing! The environment will thank you!
conn.getInputStream(); // To trigger the request

DELETE request:

HttpURLConnection conn = (HttpURLConnection) new URL("http://example.com/resource").openConnection();
conn.setRequestMethod("DELETE"); // Sending a DELETE request (It's DELETE-icious! 😄)
conn.getInputStream(); // To trigger the request

Remember to handle exceptions gracefully and close the connection after you're done.

Comprehending HTTP requests: A detailed guide

Handling HttpURLConnection can be a stroll in the park if you know what you're doing. Master the best practices and understand alternative approaches to write prom & efficient code!

HttpURLConnection: The golden rules

Follow these practices to ensure your code is as robust as a Swiss watch! ⌚

Set timeouts: Define limits using setConnectTimeout and setReadTimeout.
Exception management: Always use try-catch for network operations.
Connection cleanup: Always disconnect() the HttpURLConnection instance in a finally block.

The HttpClient Alternative

HttpURLConnection is not the only player in town! Overcome limitations using the more scalable and more user-friendly HttpClient:

Resource management: HttpClient handles thread & connection pools masterfully.
Ease of use: HttpClient simplifies HTTP operations and responses handling.

Example of PUT request with HttpClient:

var client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
var request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
        .uri(URI.create("http://example.com/resource"))
        .PUT(HttpRequest.BodyPublishers.ofString("data=example")) // Insert your data here
        .build();
var response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString()); // Fire it off!

Example of DELETE request with HttpClient:

var client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
var request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
        .uri(URI.create("http://example.com/resource"))
        .DELETE() // The DELETE-er of Worlds begins here! 😈
        .build();
var response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString()); // Fire!

Proper response handling

Ensure you check the response code to verify whether your request was successful:

int statusCode = conn.getResponseCode();
if (statusCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK) {
    // Success! You can relax now, perhaps with a drink? ☕
} else {
    // Failure! Time to debug, buddy! 🐞
}

For HttpClient, you can examine response.statusCode() similarly.

Key procedures: Handling request content and headers

When making PUT requests, you usually need to send additional content:

Set ContentType Header: Use conn.setRequestProperty("Content-Type", "your_content_type"); to let the server know the type of data coming in.
Write Data: Use OutputStreamWriter to write your data to conn.getOutputStream(). But remember, always close the writer to prevent resource leaks (just like saving water! 💦).

For DELETE requests, headers might seem optional. But if it's required: