What is difference between API and Webhook ?
An API and a webhook both let software systems communicate, but the main difference is who starts the communication.
| API | Webhook |
|---|---|
| Your application asks another system for information/action. | Another system automatically sends information to your application when something happens. |
| Request → Response | Event → Notification |
| Your app initiates it. | The external service initiates it. |
| Useful when you need data on demand. | Useful for real-time event notifications. |
| Example: “Give me the status of order #123.” | Example: “Order #123 has just been delivered.” |
Example
Imagine an online payment system.
API: Your application asks:GET /payments/123/status
The payment provider responds:status: paid
Your application had to request the information.
Webhook: You give the payment provider an endpoint such as:POST /webhooks/payment
When the payment succeeds, the provider automatically sends something like:
JSON
{
"event": "payment.success",
"payment_id": "123"
}Easy way to learn
API = “I ask you.”
Webhook = “You tell me when it happens.”
In real applications, both are often used together: a webhook tells you that something happened, then your application may call an API to retrieve the latest/full details.