Building Webhook Flows
A webhook in n8n is just a URL that a workflow listens to. When another app sends a request to that URL, the workflow wakes up and runs. It's a push-style trigger, not a pull.
Most of the time you used pull logic (HTTP Request β go get data). Webhooks are the opposite: here's my address, send the data to me. This is the cleanest way to make workflows run instantly without scheduling every 2 minutes and burning executions.
What is a Webhook
A workflow gets its own URL, and an external system (Stripe, Airtable, another n8n workflow, internal tool) sends a request to that address. The request hits the URL, n8n triggers the workflow, and the incoming payload becomes the input. That's it, no polling, no cron, no waiting.
Push vs Pull
Push is faster and cheaper because it only runs when something actually happens.
-
Pull: n8n goes out and gets the data (HTTP Request, Schedule);
-
Push: other tools send data into n8n (Webhooks).
Now you should be able to create and test a webhook in n8n, understand it as a URL that triggers a workflow, configure it with a POST method, activate it, and connect it to other apps. You'll also know how to add a Respond to Webhook node and explain why webhooks are faster and more efficient than scheduled triggers.
Thanks for your feedback!
Ask AI
Ask AI
Ask anything or try one of the suggested questions to begin our chat
Can you explain how to set up a webhook in n8n step by step?
What are some common use cases for webhooks in n8n?
How do I secure my webhook so only trusted sources can trigger it?
Awesome!
Completion rate improved to 4.17Building Webhook Flows
Swipe to show menu
A webhook in n8n is just a URL that a workflow listens to. When another app sends a request to that URL, the workflow wakes up and runs. It's a push-style trigger, not a pull.
Most of the time you used pull logic (HTTP Request β go get data). Webhooks are the opposite: here's my address, send the data to me. This is the cleanest way to make workflows run instantly without scheduling every 2 minutes and burning executions.
What is a Webhook
A workflow gets its own URL, and an external system (Stripe, Airtable, another n8n workflow, internal tool) sends a request to that address. The request hits the URL, n8n triggers the workflow, and the incoming payload becomes the input. That's it, no polling, no cron, no waiting.
Push vs Pull
Push is faster and cheaper because it only runs when something actually happens.
-
Pull: n8n goes out and gets the data (HTTP Request, Schedule);
-
Push: other tools send data into n8n (Webhooks).
Now you should be able to create and test a webhook in n8n, understand it as a URL that triggers a workflow, configure it with a POST method, activate it, and connect it to other apps. You'll also know how to add a Respond to Webhook node and explain why webhooks are faster and more efficient than scheduled triggers.
Thanks for your feedback!
