Webhook
A notification your app receives when something happens in another service.
What is Webhook?
When a Stripe payment succeeds, Stripe sends a webhook to your app — a POST request saying "payment complete, here's the details." Your app listens for webhooks to trigger actions like sending a confirmation email or unlocking a feature.
Without webhooks, your app would have to constantly ask Stripe "did the payment go through yet?" — like refreshing your email every 5 seconds instead of getting notifications.
In Vibe Coding
The most common webhook in vibe coding: Stripe sends your app a message when a payment succeeds. Your backend listens at /api/webhooks/stripe, receives the event, and updates the database — like granting premium access.
Example
For example: A customer pays $29 for your SaaS. Stripe charges their card and sends a webhook to your app saying "payment succeeded for customer X." Your app receives this and upgrades their account to premium.