What are Webhooks?

Webhooks are a method of communication between two web-based systems that enables one system to send real-time data to another system whenever a specific event occurs. Unlike traditional APIs, where you need to poll for updates, webhooks allow the receiving system to get immediate updates without the need for repeated requests.

Components of a Webhook

  • Endpoints - An endpoint is the URL in the receiving system where the webhook payload is sent. It must be publiclyaccessible so the sending system can make an HTTP POST request to it.
  • Payload - The payload is the data sent by the webhook to the receiving system. It typically contains information
    about the event, such as timestamps, user IDs, or any other relevant data. This is usually in JSON format, but it can also be XML. Arthur's webhooks allow you to customize the payload to match the requirements of your receiving system.
  • HTTP Methods - Webhooks use HTTP POST requests to send event data. The receiving system must be able to
    handle this requestand process the event payload accordingly.
  • Authentication - Security is crucial when working with webhooks. Arthur allows specifying authentication in webhook via tokens in the URL or headers of the request.