PHP REST(ful) API

[ultddave]

Hey,

I'm trying to create a PHP framework that uses the MVC design pattern and REST (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Represe...State_Transfer).

I know REST uses the HTTP GET, POST, PUT and DELETE to indicate what action should be taken against the given URL.

The PHP code to check the method/action in my ArticleController:

        $requestMethod = $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'];
        switch($requestMethod)
        {
            case 'GET':
                $this->show($articleid);
                break;
            case 'PUT':
                $this->edit($articleid);
                break;
            case 'POST':
                $this->create($articleid);
                break;
            case 'DELETE':
                $this->delete($articleid);
                break;
        } 

But I'm having trouble understanding how you can send PUT and DELETE requests via <a> tags and html forms?

For example:

<form method="post" action="/Article/2">
<input type="text" name="content" maxlength="20" size="20" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

Ofcourse the action="Article/2" will be dynamic in the final result of the webpage.

But the <form> only supports method "post" (and "get"), but I want to update (HTTP PUT) the resource. How do I do that?

The same question for delete:

<a href="/Article/2"> Delete this article </a>

How can i send an HTTP DELETE to that URI instead of a GET? Do I need to use Ajax to send an XMLHttpRequest with a 'PUT' to that URL?

Thanks in advance.

[PeejAvery]

An <a> tag would only every allow you to sent GET requests. The only way to simulate PUT and DELETE is to write a custom GET or POST to the processing PHP script.

[ultddave]

Ok, thanks for the info. I'll try it that way.