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What Is Webhook?

A webhook is an automated HTTP callback that delivers data to a specified URL in real time when a particular event occurs, rather than requiring the receiver to repeatedly request updates.

Webhooks vs. polling

Without webhooks, a system has to repeatedly poll an API to check for new data. Webhooks flip this: the provider pushes new data to the customer’s system the moment it’s available, reducing latency and unnecessary requests.

Use in data delivery

Webhooks are commonly used to notify a customer’s system the moment a scheduled scraping job completes or new records are ready, enabling near real-time data pipelines.