This post will explain the difference between a webhook and an API and how they relate.
This essay will help non-technical professionals, students, and curious minds comprehend webhooks and APIs, which are crucial to automation.
First, some key webhook and API clarifications: These ideas are complementary.
Not “Team webhooks” vs. “Team APIs”. There is no competition, and most of the time, no choice.
Second, let’s discuss webhooks’ main difference from APIs: its basic role.
APIs poll data and retrieve it when found.
However, webhooks are event-driven. This means that when an event occurs, the webhook delivers real-time data to the predefined URL (and frequently to another app).
APIs pull data from apps, whereas webhooks push it.
Start this article by defining webhooks and APIs.
A Webhook?
An app can send real-time information about an online event using a webhook.
Webhooks are kind of like online event mousetraps. A mouse trap activates when pressure is applied.
A webhook triggers when an online event occurs and provides event data to another program.
Webhooks’ technical definition is more abstract but still relevant: Webhooks are user-defined HTTP callbacks that send event data to a webhook URL.
Webhooks send arbitrary event data (such web form responses) to a URL set to receive it.
Example Of A Webhook?
Imagine creating a Typeform form to gather project answers.
You expect many answers but don’t want to spend too much time collecting and arranging them. Webhooks help.
How so? Simple: The webhook you set up will “listen” for form responses and send them to the designated webhook URL (and, if you like, to a spreadsheet).
This is a real-life example that can be used as a Make template.
Where Can I Learn About Webhooks?
For a deeper understanding of webhooks, check our guide. Our Help docs also cover webhooks.
The apps and services page include webhook templates and practical uses.
Will All Apps Support Webhooks?
No, not all apps support webhooks. Some programs have a public API but no webhooks.
After covering webhook basics, let’s discuss APIs.
What’s API?
API means application programming interface.
APIs allow programs to share data. Gateways connect software programs.
A technical definition of an API is a set of software operations that connect apps to share data.
APIs also let developers share app functionality with the public. This allows app integration and workflow automation.
Example Of An API?
A popular web application like Shopify is the easiest method to comprehend an API.
Shopify is a feature-rich platform, yet it lacks key essential functions for online businesses.
Third-party programs handle team communication, order fulfillment, and bookkeeping.
Thus, Shopify developers have to make it easy for store owners to connect their stores to third-party apps and share data.
So they created the Shopify API.
The Shopify API is a list of web addresses (API endpoints) that HTTP requests can use to access data or perform shop actions.
After reviewing API basics, let’s compare APIs and webhooks to address this post’s main topic.
Do All Apps Have APIs?
Most apps now have APIs, but some don’t.
Additionally, many APIs don’t cover all parent app functionality. Reddit’s API doesn’t provide chat endpoints.
What Distinguishes Webhooks From APIs?
APIs pull data from apps, whereas webhooks push it.
You can use API or webhook to collect form replies automatically.
When using the API, the forms API will “check” for answers every 5 minutes. The API will retrieve replies submitted during the interval and check again after 5 minutes.
No “scheduled checks” with a webhook. Simply submit fresh form answers and the webhook will deliver them to the appropriate URL.
Which Is Better, Webhook Or API?
As usual with technology, “it depends”.
If both methods are available, using a webhook or API to get app data depends on three factors:
Timing
Consuming data
Data type you seek or need
Webhooks send events and data to you immediately, which can be crucial in some circumstances.
Some firms value speedy client responses. Webhooks are better since they can launch predefined answers seconds after a consumer inquiry is made.
APIs also require additional resources and are limited by their providers.
Twitter limits API calls to look up tweets to 900 per 15 minutes. You can only make 900 Twitter API requests each 15 minutes to get tweets.
Third, webhooks and APIs provide data. Webhooks are limited in data availability, whereas APIs usually offer more.
As you can see, there’s no real choice but to use what you need and swap as necessary.
Final Words
Finally, utilize Make to generate and manage webhooks. It will simplify technical tasks and centralize webhooks and API connectors. Learn how to make custom webhooks here.
Start playing with both with an account and some spare time to get the most out of both.