What Is a Webhook?
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What Is a Webhook?
A webhook is a way for one application to automatically send real-time data to another the moment something happens, without either app having to constantly check for updates. Instead of your app repeatedly asking "has anything changed yet?", the webhook pushes a message the instant an event occurs — like a notification tap on the shoulder rather than a repeated phone call.
Webhooks vs APIs — What's the Difference?
A regular API works on request: your app has to ask for information, and the server responds. This is fine for data you need on demand, but inefficient for things that need instant updates — you'd have to keep asking "anything new?" every few seconds, wasting resources. A webhook flips this around: you register a URL with a service, and that service calls your URL automatically whenever a specific event happens. This "push" model is faster, more efficient, and is why webhooks are the backbone of most real-time integrations between apps.
Everyday Examples of Webhooks
Payment gateways use webhooks to instantly notify a business's system when a customer's payment succeeds or fails. E-commerce platforms use them to update inventory and trigger shipping the moment an order is placed. Chat and support tools use webhooks to alert a team channel when a new customer message arrives. CI/CD pipelines use them to automatically start a deployment the moment new code is pushed to a repository. For businesses running custom software or e-commerce systems, correctly configured webhooks are often what makes automated, real-time workflows possible instead of relying on manual checks.