Webhooks vs APIs: What's the Difference?

Integrating Stripe into an application brings up the distinction between APIs and webhooks, which are two different communication models used to interact with external services. APIs, functioning on a pull model, allow applications to request information or actions from another application, akin to ordering food at a restaurant where a request is made and a response is received. In contrast, webhooks operate on a push model, sending automated messages to notify an application when specific events occur, such as a successful payment, enabling real-time updates without continuous polling. While APIs are ideal for on-demand data requests and user-triggered actions, webhooks are more efficient for real-time event notifications and automation. Despite misconceptions, APIs and webhooks complement each other in event-driven architectures, with APIs handling commands and webhooks managing event notifications. Managing webhooks at scale can be complex due to challenges like delivery failures and debugging, which is where solutions like Convoy can assist by providing infrastructure for reliable webhook delivery and management.

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