How Webhooks Actually Work

Here's the technical reality, explained simply:

You configure a webhook by providing the external service with a URL — a special endpoint that your automation platform gives you. This URL is unique to your workflow. It looks something like: https://hook.n8n.cloud/webhook/a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0k1l2m3n4o5p6

This URL is yours to give to external services. It says: "When something happens, send a POST request to this URL with details about the event."

When something happens in the external service (a payment is processed, a form is submitted, a file is uploaded), the service makes an HTTP POST request to your webhook URL. The request includes JSON data about the event. Your automation platform receives this POST request, recognizes it as a trigger for your workflow, and starts executing the workflow immediately.

That's it. No polling. No waiting. The moment the event happens, your workflow starts.