Can the PUT method be used to create a resource in REST APIs?

Short answer: Yes. If the resource does not exist, PUT can create it at the specified URI. Example: 👉 PUT /users/100 → If user 100 doesn’t exist, it will be created.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

Creating an order is POST /api/orders → 201 with Location header. Fetching is GET /api/orders/{id} → 200 or 404.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.