为什么angular-fullstack同时使用put和patch请求进行表达？

Question

I found Difference between put and patch . I kind of understand teh difference after reading. It's still hazy.

My question is: Why does Yeoman generator: angular fullstack use

router.put('/:id', controller.update);
AND
router.patch('/:id', controller.update);

In there index.js files of their server.collections?

What's the purpose of having both? Moreover, How would I use one vs the other?

'use strict';

var express = require('express');
var controller = require('./thing.controller');

var router = express.Router();

router.get('/', controller.index);
router.get('/:id', controller.show);
router.post('/', controller.create);
router.put('/:id', controller.update);
router.patch('/:id', controller.update);
router.delete('/:id', controller.destroy);

module.exports = router;

server controller

// Updates an existing thing in the DB.
exports.update = function(req, res) {
  if(req.body._id) { delete req.body._id; }
  Thing.findById(req.params.id, function (err, thing) {
    if (err) { return handleError(res, err); }
    if(!thing) { return res.send(404); }
    var updated = _.merge(thing, req.body);
    updated.save(function (err) {
      if (err) { return handleError(res, err); }
      return res.json(200, thing);
    });
  });
};

Answer 1

They are just different http verbs. Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext_Transfer_Protocol#Request_methods

PUT
Requests that the enclosed entity be stored under the supplied URI. If the URI refers
to an already existing resource, it is modified; if the URI does not point to an existing
resource, then the server can create the resource with that URI.[15]

PATCH
Applies partial modifications to a resource.[18]

Answer 2

They should'n be the same!

But I see no difference on both methods on angular-fullstack and for me it is wrong !

• PUT - update the entire entity, this means you need to send EVERY single property of the item otherwise they will be erased.
• PATCH - partial update, you may send only the fields you want to change and the others will be kept on the server.

eg: Imagine the following entity:

car: {
  color: red,
  year: 2000
}

Now imagine you send a patch like this:

{color: blue}

The entity is now like this:

car: {
  color: blue,  // CHANGED
  year: 2000
}

But instead if you sent a put the entity should like this:

car: {
  color: blue  // CHANGED
  year: null   // May be null, undefined, removed, etc...
}