WEBHOOKS-SPEC

HTTP push notifications, polling alternative.

Definition

Webhook pattern: (1) Subscriber registers URL via API, (2) Provider sends POST with JSON payload + HMAC signature, (3) Subscriber responds 200, (4) Retry logic on failure. Emerging standards: Standard Webhooks (Initiative 2023, github.com/standard-webhooks), CloudEvents (CNCF). Adoption Stripe, GitHub, Twilio, Slack, AWS EventBridge. Replay protection via signature + idempotency.

Origin

Webhooks concept introduced by Jeff Lindsay 2007 ; massification ~2010 with Stripe, GitHub ; OpenAPI 3.1 webhooks formalised 2021.

Example in context

Stripe sends POST /webhooks/stripe with event.type=invoice.paid + HMAC SHA256 signature ; client server validates signature, returns 200 in under 5s.

Related terms

• EventBridge — AWS event bus.