Developer Dictionary
Webhook
Definition
A method of augmenting or altering the behavior of a web page or web application with custom callbacks.
Deep Dive
A webhook is an automated method of communication between web applications, essentially a "user-defined HTTP callback." Unlike traditional APIs where an application has to repeatedly "poll" another service for new information, webhooks deliver data to a specified URL in real-time when a particular event occurs. When an event is triggered in the source application (e.g., a new user registers, an order is placed, code is committed), the webhook automatically sends an HTTP POST request containing relevant data to a pre-configured URL on a receiving application, known as the "webhook listener."
Examples & Use Cases
- 1A payment gateway (e.g., Stripe) sends a webhook to an e-commerce platform whenever a payment is successfully processed, triggering order fulfillment
- 2A Git repository hosting service (e.g., GitHub) sends a webhook to a continuous integration (CI) server whenever new code is pushed, initiating automated tests and deployments
- 3A CRM system sends a webhook to a marketing automation tool when a new lead is created, automatically enrolling the lead in an email campaign.
Related Terms
APICallbackREST APIEvent-Driven ArchitectureIntegration