Webhook
An automatic notification that one system sends to another the moment a specific event occurs.
What is a webhook?
A webhook is a way for one system to automatically notify another when something important happens - without you having to repeatedly ask whether a new event has occurred. While a classic API works on the principle of "ask and receive," a webhook works the other way around: the external system calls you as soon as an event occurs.
How webhooks work
- You register a URL address (webhook endpoint) in the source system.
- When an event occurs (e.g., a new payment or form submission), the system sends an HTTP POST to your URL.
- Your system (e.g., an n8n workflow) receives and processes the message.
Example use cases
- Triggering an n8n workflow when a new email or form arrives
- Notification when a payment is completed in an e-shop
- Immediate processing of a response from an AI model