The document discusses why HTML forms have traditionally only supported GET and POST methods, not PUT and DELETE. It provides historical context, from the origins of HTTP/1.0 and HTML 4.0 through proposals in XForms and the current discussions in HTML5. While forms were originally designed for GET/POST submission before Ajax existed, recent draft extensions aim to enhance HTTP request generation from forms to support the full HTTP/1.1 method set through new attributes.

1. PUT & DELETE
why html form doesn’t support ?
2014/4/12

2. Jack
● id: Jxck
● github: Jxck
● twitter: jxck_
● about: http://jxck.io
● blog: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/jxck
● Love: music

3. spec and status
Form

4. form - method attr
<form
action="http://example.com/users"
method="post">
<label for="name">name: </label>
<input type="text" id="name">
<input type="submit" value="send">
</form>

5. I’m wondering...
https://twitter.com/Jxck_/status/447663659511054336

6. Discussing on TL
http://togetter.com/li/646275

7. History of Web
... HTTP/0.9
1996/ 5 HTTP/1.0 (GET,POST,HEAD)
1997/ 1 HTTP/1.1 (+ PUT,DELETE etc)
1997/12 HTML 4.0 (GET,POST)
1997/12 HTML 4.01 (GET,POST)
2000/ 1 XHTML 1.0
2003/11 XForms 1.0 (GET,POST,PUT)
2008/ 1 HTML 5 (GET,POST)
2009/10 XForms 1.1 (+ DELETE)
2010/11 XHTML 1.1
...

8. HTML 4.01 (spec)
method = get|post [CI]
This attribute specifies which HTTP method will
be used to submit the form data set. Possible
(case-insensitive) values are "get" (the default)
and "post". See the section on form submission
for usage information.
http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/interact/forms.html#adef-method

9. HTML 4.0.x
● Usage
○ before Ajax, XHR, REST
○ “JavaScript off” on browser
● Security
○ on Server Side
○ apache case
■ http://www.apacheweek.com/features/put
● Form Spec
○ action attr is static
○ no header handling from form
○ behavior for response
● No UseCases, No Needs

10. History of Web
... HTTP/0.9
1996/ 5 HTTP/1.0 (GET,POST,HEAD)
1997/ 1 HTTP/1.1 (+ PUT,DELETE etc)
1997/12 HTML 4.0 (GET,POST)
1997/12 HTML 4.01 (GET,POST)
2000/ 1 XHTML 1.0
2003/11 XForms 1.0 (GET,POST,PUT)
2008/ 1 HTML 5 (GET,POST)
2009/10 XForms 1.1 (+ DELETE)
2010/11 XHTML 1.1
...

11. XForm 1.1 (spec)
11.9.3 The put Submission Method
This submit method represents HTTP PUT or the
equivalent concept (such as writing to a local file). The
serialized form data is delivered as the message body.
11.9.4 The delete Submission Method
This submit method represents HTTP DELETE or the
equivalent concept (such as deleting a local file). The
serialized form data is delivered in the same manner as the
getsubmission method (see 11.9.1 The get Submission
Method).
http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/REC-xforms-20091020/#submit-put

12. XForm
● more rich Form by XML
○ lots of new feature
○ no depends on JavaScript
○ XForm 1.1 supports PUT, DELETE
● XHTML2.0 includes XForm
○ finished working
○ to HTML5
○ no implementation
● XHTML2.0 Finished ;(

13. History of Web
... HTTP/0.9
1996/ 5 HTTP/1.0 (GET,POST,HEAD)
1997/ 1 HTTP/1.1 (+ PUT,DELETE etc)
1997/12 HTML 4.0 (GET,POST)
1997/12 HTML 4.01 (GET,POST)
2000/ 1 XHTML 1.0
2003/11 XForms 1.0 (GET,POST,PUT)
2008/ 1 HTML 5 (GET,POST)
2009/10 XForms 1.1 (+ DELETE)
2010/11 XHTML 1.1
...

14. HTML 5 (spec)
http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/forms.html#attr-fs-method
The method and formmethod content
attributes are enumerated attributes with the
following keywords and states:
●The keyword get, mapping to the state GET,
indicating the HTTP GET method.
●The keyword post, mapping to the state
POST, indicating the HTTP POST method.

15. HTML5
● After Ajax, XHR, REST(like rails)
● JavaScript has benefits
● Discussion on @W3C bug 10671
from Julian:
consider adding support for PUT and DELETE
as form methods
from Chair:
"it doesn't make much sense
with forms either" by Hixie

16. it’s not period
But

17. Continue in Public-HTML-Comments
● Enhance http request generation from forms
○ https://www.w3.org/html/wg/tracker/issues/195
○ long discussion
● HTML Form HTTP Extensions
○ http://cameronjones.github.io/form-http-
extensions/index.html by Cameron Jones
○ supports full HTTP/1.1 method
○ supports HTTP Authenticate
○ add payload attribute
○ WIP now
○ will WGFD and will be in HTML5.1?

18. HTML Form HTTP Extensions
by Cameron Jones: http://cameronjones.github.io/form-http-extensions/index.html

19. Example - PUT
<form action="http://www.example.com/cms/hogmanay" method="PUT">
<input name="If-Unmodified-Since"
type="hidden"
value="Tue, 1 Jan 2013 12:00:00 GMT"
payload="_header"/>
<textarea name="content">
// content
</textarea>
<button type="submit">Update</button>
</form>

20. Example - Basic Auth Login
<form action="http://www.example.com/login" method="POST">
<label for="_username_">Username</label>
<input name="_username_" type="text"/>
<label for="_password_">Password</label>
<input name="_password_" type="password"/>
<button type="submit">Login</button>
</form>

21. Example - Mail
<form action="mailto:">
<label for="to">To</label>
<input name="to" type="email" payload="_action"/>
<label for="cc">Cc</label>
<input name="cc" type="email" payload="_header"/>
<label for="subject">Subject</label>
<input name="subject" type="text" payload="_header"/>
<label>Content</label>
<textarea size="50"/>
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>

22. Conclusion

23. Conclusion
● History
○ HTML4.x: No UseCase, No Needs
○ XForm: XHTML2.0 Finished
○ HTML5: Make No Sence
● Draft
○ Discussing Now
○ Extend Form SPEC by Cameron
○ http://cameronjones.github.io/form-http-
extensions/index.html
○ Will include in HTML5.1 ?

24. More Detail
http://jxck.hatenablog.com/entry/why-form-dosent-support-put-delete

25. thanks :)
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