What is CRUD?
CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update, Delete — the four basic operations that almost every application or service performs on data. Whether you’re developing a web API, managing a database, or building a mobile app, CRUD operations are at the core of how data is handled.
Let’s break it down in simple terms:
- Create – Add a new entry to the system
- Read – Retrieve data from the system
- Update – Modify existing data
- Delete – Remove data from the system
These operations map directly to HTTP methods in RESTful APIs:
| CRUD | HTTP Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Create | POST | Add new data |
| Read | GET | Retrieve data |
| Update | PUT / PATCH | Modify data |
| Delete | DELETE | Remove data |
Real-World Example
Imagine a simple blog API:
- Create a post:
POST /posts - Read all posts:
GET /posts - Read one post:
GET /posts/1 - Update a post:
PUT /posts/1 - Delete a post:
DELETE /posts/1
These four actions are CRUD in motion.
Why CRUD is Important
CRUD isn’t just for APIs — it applies to databases, admin dashboards, mobile apps, and beyond. If you’re building anything that stores and manipulates data, you’re doing CRUD.
Understanding this helps you design better systems, write cleaner code, and communicate more effectively with teammates.
Conclusion
CRUD is one of those concepts that’s so fundamental, you’ll see it everywhere once you know it. Mastering CRUD gives you a strong foundation for REST, databases, and backend development in general.