Short answer
A webhook is an automatic message one system sends to another the moment something happens, such as a form submission or a deal closing. Instead of repeatedly asking for changes (polling), the receiving system is notified in real time.
Webhooks explained
A webhook is an HTTP request sent to a URL you provide, carrying data about the event. HubSpot workflows can send webhooks, Salesforce can publish events through Flow, Platform Events and Change Data Capture, and most SaaS tools can send or receive them. Middleware such as MuleSoft or Zapier often sits in between to transform and route the data.
Webhooks need security, such as signatures or secrets, and retry handling in case the receiver is down.
How Vantage Point helps: we design event-driven integrations with webhooks and platform events, including security, retries and monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a webhook and an API?
An API is something you call to request or send data. A webhook is a call another system makes to you automatically when an event occurs.
Are webhooks secure?
They can be, when the receiver verifies a signature or secret and the endpoint uses HTTPS.