API vs Webhook: Understanding the Difference
APIs and webhooks are both mechanisms for applications to communicate, but they work in fundamentally opposite directions.
API: You Ask, I Answer
An API (Application Programming Interface) follows a pull-based model. Your application makes a request to a server whenever it needs data. Think of it as calling a restaurant to ask if your table is ready—you initiate the conversation each time you want information.
Client → Request → Server
Client ← Response ← Server
This approach gives you control over when data is fetched, but it has a drawback: if you need real-time updates, you must repeatedly poll the server, which wastes resources when nothing has changed.
Webhook: I'll Call You
A webhook flips this model. It's a push-based mechanism where the server automatically sends data to your application when an event occurs. Instead of calling the restaurant, you give them your number and they text you when your table is ready.
Event occurs → Server → POST request → Your endpoint
Webhooks are more efficient for event-driven scenarios because data flows only when something actually happens.
When to Use Each
Use an API when:
- You need data on demand
- You want to query, filter, or manipulate resources
- The timing of requests is controlled by your application
Use a webhook when:
- You need real-time notifications (payment completed, new message, deployment finished)
- You want to avoid constant polling
- You're reacting to external events
A Practical Example
Consider a payment system. With an API approach, you'd repeatedly call GET /payment/123/status until it returns "completed." With a webhook, you register your endpoint once, and the payment provider sends a POST to https://yourapp.com/webhook/payment the moment the transaction succeeds.
Conclusion
In practice, most modern integrations use both: webhooks for real-time event notifications, and APIs for fetching additional details or performing actions in response. Understanding when to pull versus when to be pushed to is key to building efficient, responsive systems.
