# Webhook

> An automated HTTP callback that sends real-time data to a specified URL when a specific event occurs in a system.

Category: Infrastructure

Source: https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary/webhook

A webhook is an HTTP callback that automatically sends data to a specified URL when a specific event occurs. Unlike APIs where you repeatedly ask "has anything happened?" (polling), webhooks push data to you in real-time when something happens — it's the difference between refreshing your inbox and getting push notifications.

How webhooks work: you configure a URL endpoint to receive notifications, when a trigger event occurs, an HTTP POST request is sent to your URL, the request body contains event data (usually JSON), and your endpoint processes the data and responds with a 2xx status code.

In AI agent ecosystems, webhooks enable: real-time notifications (agent qualified a lead — notify sales), event-driven workflows (customer purchased — trigger onboarding), third-party integrations (new message — update CRM), billing events (subscription changed — update access), and monitoring (error occurred — alert team).

Webhook best practices: always verify webhook signatures (ensure they're from the claimed sender), respond quickly (process asynchronously if work is slow), implement idempotency (handle duplicate deliveries gracefully), log everything (for debugging delivery issues), and handle failures (retry logic for temporary failures).

On platforms like Chipp, webhooks are used both internally (Stripe webhooks for billing events, WhatsApp webhooks for incoming messages) and externally (builders can configure webhook endpoints to receive events from their AI agents). Custom actions can also call external webhooks during conversations, enabling real-time integration with any system.

## Related Terms

- [API](https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary/api.md): Application Programming Interface — a set of rules allowing different software applications to communicate and exchange data.
- [AI Agent Webhooks](https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary/ai-agent-webhooks.md): HTTP callbacks that notify external systems when specific events occur in an AI agent's lifecycle, such as new messages, completed actions, or user sign-ups.
- [Function Calling](https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary/function-calling.md): The ability of AI models to identify when a conversation requires calling an external function or API, and to generate the structured parameters needed to make that call.
- [AI Orchestration](https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary/ai-orchestration.md): The coordination of multiple AI models, tools, and workflows to accomplish complex tasks that require multiple steps and capabilities.

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This term is part of the [Chipp AI Glossary](https://chipp.ai/ai/glossary), a reference of AI concepts written for builders and businesses.

Build AI agents with no code at https://chipp.ai.