Difference between GET data as a function parameter and an item from requests.arg

Question

I would like to know if there is any difference between:

@app.route('/api/users/<int:id>', methods=['GET'])
def get_user(id):
    pass  # handle user here with given id

and

@app.route('/api/users')
def get_user():
    id = request.args.get('id')
    # handle user here with given id

Furthermore, is there a way to get multiple parameters in the former? Can they be optional parameters?

Answer 1

Yes, it is.

First method:

@app.route('/api/users/<int:id>', methods=['GET']
def get_user(id):
    pass  # handle user here with given id

Defines a route and a method. This function is only triggered with this method over this path.

Second method:

@app.route('/api/users')
def get_user():
    id = request.args.get('id')
    # handle user here with given id

It just defines a route. You can execute the function with all methods.

The route in the first method is: webexample.com/api/users/1 for user 1

The route in the second one is: webexample.com/api/users?id=1 for user 1