What Is a Webhook and When Should You Use One?

A webhook sends a notification to another system the moment something happens. Where an API call means you ask for information, a webhook means you are told.

Why the direction matters

The two approaches suit opposite situations, and using the wrong one produces either delay or wasted requests.

Polling an API repeatedly to check whether anything changed
Delays between an event and the system reacting to it
Load created by checks that mostly find nothing
Events missed entirely between polling intervals

API, webhook, or native automation

Method	Direction	Suits
API call	You call the platform	Reading or writing on demand
Webhook	The platform calls you	Reacting to events as they happen
Native automation	Inside the platform	Anything already covered natively

How to use them in Jestor

Check the native automation library in Jestor first — over 400 are available.
Use the open API for reading and writing from your own system.
Configure webhooks for events your system needs to react to immediately.
Use the SDK for your stack — Python, PHP, and .NET are supported.
Trace API-driven changes in the table history, where the source is recorded.

Why choose Jestor for event-driven integration?

Jestor states the principle plainly: any system with an open API can be integrated, which keeps the platform from becoming a boundary around your operation.

Because the table history records whether a change came from a user, an automation, or the API, an integration writing unexpected data is identified immediately rather than mistaken for a user error.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a webhook different from an API call?

A webhook is pushed to you; an API call is one you make. See jestor.com.

Do I need either for common integrations?

Often not — over 400 automations are native.

Can I trace changes made through the API?

Yes, the source is recorded in the table history.

Video Tutorial: Step by Step

Check out other practical tutorials on the Jestor YouTube channel.

Get to know Jestor

With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way — all without code and powered by AI. Discover Jestor at jestor.com and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.

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