Web Development Intermediate

What is Webhook?

A mechanism where a server sends real-time HTTP POST notifications to a specified URL when specific events occur.

Webhooks are "reverse APIs" — instead of polling for updates, the service pushes data to your endpoint when events happen. For example, Stripe sends a webhook when a payment succeeds, and GitHub sends webhooks on code pushes.

Implementing webhook receivers involves validating signatures (to prevent spoofing), responding quickly (200 status), processing asynchronously, and handling retries for failed deliveries. Webhooks are essential for event-driven integrations.

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Related Terms

Server-Sent Events

A server push technology that enables a server to send real-time updates to a browser over a single HTTP connection.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A distributed network of servers that delivers web content to users from the geographically closest location.

A widely-used server-side scripting language designed for web development that powers over 75% of websites including WordPress.

A technique that delays loading non-critical resources until they are needed, improving initial page load performance.

REST (Representational State Transfer)

An architectural style for designing networked applications using standard HTTP methods and stateless communication.

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