Webhook
A webhook is an HTTP callback mechanism where a system sends an automated HTTP request to a specified URL whenever a defined event occurs, enabling real-time notification and integration between services without polling.
Understanding Webhook
Webhooks are often called 'reverse APIs.' Instead of your application periodically asking a service 'has anything changed?' (polling), the service proactively calls your application when something changes. This event-driven model is more efficient and more real-time. A webhook is set up by providing a URL to the service you want to receive events from. When the event occurs (a new email arrives, a payment succeeds, a task is completed, a form is submitted), the service sends an HTTP POST request to your URL with a payload describing the event. Your server processes the payload and takes action. Webhooks power most modern integrations. When a GitHub PR is merged, GitHub sends a webhook to your CI system. When a Stripe payment succeeds, Stripe webhooks trigger order fulfillment. When a Calendly event is booked, Calendly webhooks can trigger CRM updates. Webhook reliability requires handling failure cases: retries when the receiving server is down, signature verification to confirm the webhook is authentic, idempotency to handle duplicate deliveries, and queue-based processing to handle high event volumes.
How GAIA Uses Webhook
GAIA uses webhooks to receive real-time events from connected tools. When a new email arrives in Gmail, a task is updated in Linear, or a Calendly event is booked, webhooks notify GAIA immediately so it can act — creating a task, sending a notification, or triggering a workflow — without the latency or overhead of periodic polling.
Related Concepts
API Integration
API integration is the process of connecting different software applications through their Application Programming Interfaces, enabling them to share data and functionality seamlessly.
Event-Driven Automation
Event-driven automation is a pattern where workflows are triggered automatically in response to specific events, such as a new email arriving, a calendar event being created, or a message being posted, enabling real-time, reactive processing.
Workflow Automation
Workflow automation is the use of technology to execute repeatable business processes and tasks automatically, reducing manual effort and human error.
Trigger-Action Automation
Trigger-action automation is a pattern in which a defined event (the trigger) automatically initiates one or more downstream actions, enabling event-driven workflows that operate without human initiation.
REST API
A REST (Representational State Transfer) API is a web service interface that uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) to access and manipulate resources identified by URLs, following a set of architectural conventions that make APIs predictable and interoperable.
