Question

can i call a web service like this
and not use put and delete method?
is this a REST web service really?

....
$url = 'webservice.php';
$data = array(
    'username' => 'a',
    'password' => 'a',
    'param1'=> 'param1',
    'operation'=> 'delete',
    'output'=>'xml'
);
$client = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($client, CURLOPT_POST,1);
....

……………….

//webservice.php
$operation=$_POST['operation'];
$param1=$_POST['param1'];
if ($operation=='delete')
{
$r=mysql("delete from list where id='$param1'");
}
if ($operation=='insert')
{
$r=mysql("insert into  list values ('$param1')");
}
.....

Answer 1

This kind of technique is sometimes called “tunneling” because it buries the true operation in the body of a generic POST operation. In my opinion it’s kind of a hack and defeats the purpose of REST but sometimes it’s necessary if your web host doesnt allow the required HTTP verbs.

Using standard verbs and understanding the implications they make about your service is an important aspect of REST that should not be overlooked. For example, you should be able to issue a DELETE operation repeatedly on the same resource and that should result in only the first DELETE having any effect (idempotent). With GET it should be assumed that no changes are being made on the server (safe). But hiding the operation inside of a POST obscures that.