What is a Webhook? - Definition & Meaning
Learn what a webhook is, how webhooks work as push notifications between systems, and why webhooks are essential for chatbot integrations and real-time communication.
Definition
A webhook is a mechanism where an application automatically sends an HTTP request to a pre-configured URL when a specific event occurs. It is a "reverse API": instead of you requesting data, the data is automatically sent to you the moment something happens.
Technical explanation
Webhooks operate on the publisher-subscriber model: you register an endpoint URL with the source application and specify which events you want to receive. When an event occurs, the source sends an HTTP POST request to your endpoint with a JSON payload containing the event details. The receiver must respond quickly (typically within 5-30 seconds) with a 200 OK status to confirm the message was received; otherwise, the source may retry the message. Important security considerations include: HTTPS encryption for transport, webhook signature verification (HMAC-SHA256) to verify the message actually comes from the source, IP whitelisting, and idempotency keys to prevent duplicate processing. In the chatbot world, webhooks receive messages from messaging platforms (Telegram, Discord), e-commerce events (new order, payment received), and CRM updates (new lead, ticket update). Popular tools like Zapier and Make are built on webhooks for no-code integrations.
How OpenClaw Installeren applies this
OpenClaw Installeren configures webhooks as the primary communication mechanism between messaging platforms and your AI assistant. The Telegram webhook receives messages, forwards them to the chatbot engine, and returns the AI-generated response. Additionally, you can configure custom webhooks to receive events from external systems, allowing your chatbot to proactively provide information.
Practical examples
- A Telegram webhook forwarding every new user message directly to the chatbot backend on your VPS, where it is processed by the LLM and the response is sent back.
- An e-commerce webhook automatically notifying the chatbot when a new order is placed, so the assistant can send the customer a confirmation message.
- A GitHub webhook sending a notification to a Telegram group via the chatbot on every code push, with a summary of the changes.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
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