Varien_Http_Client: getQuery() returns nothing

Question

I'm trying to use Varien_Http_Client for calling external API, here's the code:

    $httpClient = new Varien_Http_Client();
    $httpClient->setUri('https://api-host/api/endpoint');
    $httpClient->setMethod(Zend_Http_Client::GET)
    $httpClient->setParameterGet([
        'name' => 'John',
        'gender' => 'male',
    ]);

    $params = $httpClient->getUri()->getQuery();

The problem is $httpClient->getUri()->getQuery() returns nothing if I set the GET parameters using setParameterGet() like above, shouldn't it suppose to return name=John&gender=male?

Updated: getQuery() after calling request, getting same result

    $httpClient = new Varien_Http_Client();
    $httpClient->setUri('https://api-host/api/endpoint');
    $httpClient->setMethod(Zend_Http_Client::GET)
    $httpClient->setParameterGet([
        'name' => 'John',
        'gender' => 'male',
    ]);

    try {
        $response = $httpClient->request();
        Mage::log($httpClient->getUri()->getQuery());
    } catch (Exception $e) {
        Mage::log($e);
        return $e;
    }

One more thing, it works if I set the parameters this way

$httpClient->setUri('https://api-host/api/endpoint?name=John&gender=male');

Answer 1

because you have not sent the request yet, you should:

$httpClient = new Varien_Http_Client();
$httpClient->setUri('https://api-host/api/endpoint');
$httpClient->setMethod(Zend_Http_Client::GET)
$httpClient->setParameterGet([
    'name' => 'John',
    'gender' => 'male',
]);
$httpClient->request();
$param = $httpClient->getUri()->getQuery();

Before $httpClient->request() is called, the Uri's query is null