What is a webhook?

Question

What is a webhook?

Onkar Sharma · Answer

As per Wikipedia, "In web development, a webhook is a method of augmenting or altering the behavior of a web page or web application with custom callbacks. These callbacks may be maintained, modified, and managed by third-party users who need not be affiliated with the originating website or application". In simple words, "A webhook is a technique used in web development that allows one system to send real-time data to another system whenever a particular event occurs. Unlike traditional APIs where the user needs to periodically request data, webhooks automatically push data when an event happens, enabling more efficient and immediate data transfer". Webhooks are often implemented through HTTP POST requests sent to a specified URL. For instance, when a user signs up for a service, a webhook can be set up to notify another application about the new registration by sending a POST request with relevant data to the specified endpoint. Webhooks are commonly used in various applications including payment systems, where a service might need to be notified about payment status changes, or in continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows, where a webhook triggers a new build process upon code changes. They allow for seamless integration and communication between different systems and services. To know more about Webhook, visit: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/webhooks-in-net/ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/webhooks/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webhook https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-webhook Thanks! !! Happy Learning !!

Amit Mohanty · Answer

A webhook in terms of a Web API is actually the way an application can send real-time information to another system over the web. Instead of having an application send a request to an API to fetch data, the API simply sends data to the application when certain events or triggers occur. For example you're using a payment gateway API that supports webhooks. Now you configure a webhook URL in your application where the gateway will send notifications when a payment is successful. Once the payment occurs, the gateway sends an HTTP request to your webhook URL, and your application processes the payment and updates the order status. Characteristics of Webhooks: Real-time: Webhooks are activated once specific events occur and can send data in real-time. Push mechanism: the actual data is pushed to your application system, so no refresh on the API to actually know if something changed. Event-based: Most often, webhooks are attached to specific events within an API such as posting a new message, order placed, or updated item. For more details check the below links. https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/webhooks-in-net/ https://www.techtarget.com/searchapparchitecture/tip/Webhooks-explained-simply-and-how-they-differ-from-an-API https://www.mparticle.com/blog/apis-vs-webhooks/ https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-webhook

Sangeetha S · Answer

A webhook is a way for one application to send real-time data to another whenever a specific event occurs. It’s essentially a user-defined HTTP callback. When the event happens, the source application makes an HTTP request (often a POST request) to a URL specified by the user, allowing for immediate updates and interactions without continuous polling Real-time communication: Webhooks provide instant notifications, which can be more efficient than periodic polling. Event-driven: They are triggered by specific events, such as a new user signing up or a payment being processed. Customizable: Users can define what events trigger the webhook and the URL that receives the data.

Deepak Tewatia · Answer

This is a method for one application to automatically send real-time information to another application when a specific event occurs.

What is a webhook?

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