Chapter 13: HTTP PATCH
The PATCH method is used for partial updates of a resource. Unlike the other HTTP methods described in this guide, PATCH is not covered in RFC 9110 but in separate standards. The method can be implemented in two different ways, and both approaches can be supported simultaneously:
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Both of the mentioned standards were originally designed for updating resources with a JSON representation. This is also the reason why some older APIs still use the PUT method for partial updates. Since most modern REST APIs use JSON as the default representation, there is no longer any justification for using PUT in this way. In addition, modern APIs have extended the principles of the PATCH method to other formats, including XML.