Webhooks vs REST APIs: when to use one over the other

The text discusses the differences between webhooks and REST APIs, outlining their respective advantages and disadvantages for application integration. Webhooks allow real-time data transfer between applications by sending POST requests upon specific events, making them suitable for time-sensitive scenarios. However, they only support one-way communication and can be affected by system downtimes. REST APIs, in contrast, offer a standardized way to perform CRUD operations across applications using various HTTP methods and formats like JSON or XML, although they lack real-time data updates and may require unnecessary API calls. They are more versatile but can be time-intensive to build and maintain due to unique vendor requirements. The text concludes by suggesting that Merge's Unified API platform can facilitate seamless integration by offering both webhook and REST API capabilities, allowing users to manage data syncs in diverse frequencies and across multiple integration categories.

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