Webhooks are a way for an app to send real-time information to another app. They are often used to trigger an action in another app in response to a specific event happening in the first app.
Here’s how webhooks work:
- The first app (also known as the “sender”) sends a request to a specific URL (known as the “webhook URL”) when a specific event occurs. This request is usually a simple HTTP POST request with a JSON payload containing data about the event.
- The second app (also known as the “receiver”) listens for incoming requests at the webhook URL. When it receives a request, it processes the data contained in the payload and triggers an action based on the data.
- The receiver app can then send a response back to the sender app, acknowledging that the action has been completed.
Webhooks are useful because they allow apps to communicate with each other in real-time, without the need for constant polling. This can save resources and make the integration between apps more efficient.
Webhooks are often used in the context of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). An API is a set of protocols and tools that allow different apps to communicate with each other. Webhooks are just one way for apps to communicate via APIs.
To use webhooks, both the sender and receiver apps need to support them and have the necessary infrastructure in place. The sender app needs to know the webhook URL of the receiver app and send requests to it at the appropriate times. The receiver app needs to have a way to listen for incoming requests and process them appropriately.
Overall, webhooks are a powerful tool for integrating different apps and enabling them to communicate with each other in real-time. They can make the integration between apps more efficient and allow for more dynamic and responsive interactions.