What Are Webhooks?
Webhooks are the backbone of modern automation. They let external services send data to your n8n workflows in real-time. Instead of polling an API every few minutes to check for changes, webhooks push data to you the instant something happens.
If you have ever wanted to trigger a workflow when someone fills out a form, makes a purchase, or sends a message, webhooks are how you do it.
Your First Webhook Workflow
In n8n, add a Webhook node as your trigger. It generates a unique URL. Any HTTP request sent to that URL triggers your workflow with the request data as input. Test it by opening the URL in your browser or sending a POST request with curl.
Webhook Configuration
The Webhook node supports GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and PATCH methods. You can configure authentication (Basic Auth, Header Auth, or none), response codes, and response bodies.
Common Webhook Use Cases
Form Processing
Point your website form action URL to your n8n webhook. Every submission triggers the workflow with the form data.
Payment Notifications
Stripe, PayPal, and most payment processors support webhooks. Receive instant payment notifications and trigger fulfillment workflows.
GitHub/GitLab Events
Trigger workflows on push events, pull requests, or issue creation. Build CI/CD notification pipelines or automated code review systems.
Security Best Practices
Always use HTTPS webhook URLs. Implement webhook signature verification when the sending service supports it. Add an IF node to validate expected payload structure before processing.
For the complete getting started experience, read my n8n beginner guide.