Overview of request methods for the XML API

The Cloud Storage XML API supports several standard HTTP request methods.Each method can use numerous request headers and response headers. The XML APIdocumentation describes all of the supported HTTP methods as well as the mostfrequently used headers for each method.

Some methods are used to work with both data and metadata depending on context.For example, you can use one PUT Bucket request to create a bucket followed by asecond PUT Bucket request to configure logging for the bucket.

The following list shows which XML API method you use to accomplishbucket and object tasks.

Conventions used

Conventions used in the XML API documentation:

  • TheAuthorization header is represented as<authentication string>. Ifyou are using the XML API to migrate from another storage provider, then theAuthorization has the format discussed inAuthentication in a Simple Migration Scenario.Otherwise, theAuthorization header has the formatdiscussed inOAuth 2.0 Authentication.

    If you do not provide authorization information when required to perform arequest, the Cloud Storage issues a 401 unauthorized error. For moreinformation, seeStatus Codes.

  • TheHost header used in the XML API documentation is of the form:

    Host:BUCKET-NAME.storage.googleapis.com
    where the bucket name is specified as part of the hostname. In alloperations except GET service, you can also specify the bucket as part ofthe URL path. For more information, seeRequest Endpoints.

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Last updated 2025-12-17 UTC.