Concepts

Webhooks

Automated HTTP messages that apps send to each other when events happen, enabling real-time data sharing without constant polling.

What are Webhooks?

Webhooks are automated HTTP requests that apps send to each other when specific events happen.

Instead of your app constantly checking "did anything new happen?", webhooks flip it around. The source app sends a POST request to your specified URL the instant something occurs, like a payment processing, a form submission, or a new signup.

Most builders use webhooks to connect their apps to services like Stripe, GitHub, or Zapier. You provide a URL endpoint, the service hits it when events fire, and your app processes the incoming JSON payload.

Free to implement. You just need a publicly accessible endpoint that can receive POST requests. Most platforms include webhook functionality in their standard plans.

Good to Know

Event-driven: Webhooks trigger instantly when something happens, no polling needed
Simple HTTP POST: Just a URL endpoint that receives JSON data
One-way communication: Source app pushes data to your endpoint
Requires public URL: Your endpoint needs to be accessible from the internet
Built into most platforms: Stripe, GitHub, Shopify, and thousands of others support webhooks

How Vibe Coders Use Webhooks

1
Getting instant Stripe notifications when payments succeed so you can provision accounts immediately
2
Triggering builds in your CI/CD pipeline when code gets pushed to GitHub
3
Sending Slack messages to your team when new support tickets come in
4
Syncing customer data between your app and your CRM in real-time

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Terms

Realtime Subscriptions

A way for apps to receive instant updates when data changes, without constantly asking the server if anything's new.

Environment Variables

Dynamic configuration values stored outside your code that control how your app behaves across different environments.

n8n

Open-source workflow automation platform that connects apps and APIs with a visual interface and optional code-level control.

API Key

A unique string that authenticates your app when it calls an API, like a password that identifies who's making the request.

Supabase

Open-source Firebase alternative built on PostgreSQL with instant APIs, authentication, storage, and real-time subscriptions.

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