Which of the following methods is used to fetch and return data from a server?

The method used to fetch and return data from a server is GET. This HTTP method is specifically designed for retrieving data from a specified resource. When a GET request is made, the client sends a request to the server, which then processes that request and returns the requested data. This operation is safe and idempotent, meaning it does not change the state of the resource and can be called multiple times without different outcomes.

In contrast, the other methods serve different purposes. DELETE is used to remove a resource from the server; PUT is used to update an existing resource or create a new one; and POST is employed to send data to the server to create a new resource. Each of these methods plays a unique role in RESTful API interactions, but when it comes specifically to fetching data, GET is the appropriate choice.