Webhook
A user-defined HTTP callback that triggers when a specific event occurs in a third-party service.
Definition
A webhook is an HTTP callback mechanism that allows a server to send real-time data to a client application when a specific event occurs, rather than the client polling for updates. When an event is triggered (e.g., payment completed, code pushed), the webhook sender makes an HTTP POST request to the registered endpoint URL with event data. Webhooks enable event-driven integrations between services without constant polling. They are widely used in payment processing, CI/CD, and SaaS integrations.
Example
“When a Stripe payment succeeds, Stripe sends a webhook POST to your server's /payments/webhook endpoint with payment details, triggering order fulfillment automatically.”
Synonyms
- HTTP callback
- event notification
- push notification endpoint
Antonyms / Opposites
- polling
- pull-based integration
Images
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Related Terms
- api
- event-driven
- http
- polling