Webhook
A webhook is a mechanism that lets one application automatically send real-time notifications to another — like automatically 'phoning' the other app when an event occurs.
How it works
It works on a 'reverse API' or event-driven principle: when a specific event occurs in the source application (e.g., a payment system), such as a successful payment, it proactively sends an HTTP request containing the relevant data to a pre-configured target URL. This is far more efficient than having the target application constantly poll for updates, making webhooks a key technology for real-time data synchronization and automated workflows between applications.
Examples
- 1.When a user completes payment on an e-commerce platform, a webhook automatically notifies the warehouse management system to process the order and ship it.
- 2.When code is pushed to a GitHub repository, a webhook automatically triggers the CI/CD pipeline to build and test.
- 3.When a form receives a new submission, a webhook syncs the data in real time to the user's CRM or spreadsheet tool.