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Collecting

What Happens When Your System Receives a Webhook?

When you set up a webhook, you're essentially telling a service (like a payment gateway or e-commerce platform):

"Notify me automatically when something important happens by sending the details to a URL I provide."

The "Collecting" (or "Receiving") stage is when:

1️⃣ Your system receives this automated message (the event data). 2️⃣ Verifies if the message is genuine and secure. 3️⃣ Processes the information and takes action (like releasing a product or updating an order).



Step-by-Step Receiving Process (Collecting)

1. The Service Sends Data to Your URL

  • When an event occurs (e.g., a customer pays for an order), the service (like Stripe or Mercado Pago) sends a real-time notification to the URL you registered.

  • This message contains all the event details (e.g., payment amount, order ID, status).

2. Your System Receives and Acknowledges the Message

  • Your URL (endpoint) must be ready to:

    • Receive the message (usually in JSON format, a structured text format).

    • Respond quickly with an "OK, received!" (HTTP 200 status), even if processing isn’t complete yet.

3. Security Verification

To prevent fake messages:

  • Digital Signature: The service includes a "signature" (like a security seal). Your system checks if it’s valid.

  • Trusted IP: Your system can verify if the message came from an authorized server (e.g., only accept PayPal notifications from their official IPs).

4. Processing the Information

  • If everything checks out, your system:

    • Extracts key data (e.g., order number, payment amount).

    • Takes automated action (e.g., marks the order as "Paid" or grants digital product access).

5. Logging and Error Handling

  • Logs (Records): Saves a history of received notifications for future reference.

  • If something fails:

    • Your system can ask the service to retry later.

    • Sends an alert (e.g., email) to your team for critical issues.



Why Is This Important?

  • No delays: You don’t have to manually check if a payment was approved—the webhook informs you instantly.

  • Fewer errors: Full automation eliminates human oversight (e.g., forgetting to update an order).

  • Seamless integration: Connects different systems (e.g., online store + ERP + logistics) without manual work.



Practical Example

Imagine you run an online store:

  1. A customer pays R$150.00 via credit card.

  2. The payment gateway (e.g., PagSeguro) sends a webhook to your URL with:

    • Status: Approved

    • Order: #12345

    • Amount: R$150.00

  3. Your system:

    • Confirms the message is from PagSeguro.

    • Updates order #12345 to "Paid".

    • Sends a confirmation email to the customer.

    • If it’s a digital product, access is granted immediately.

All this happens in seconds, with zero manual effort!



Common Issues & Fixes

  • Webhook not arriving?

    • Check if the URL is correct and your server is online.

  • Duplicate messages?

    • Configure your system to ignore repeats (using a unique event ID).

  • Incomplete data?

    • Review the service’s documentation for expected fields.



Final Summary

"Collecting" in webhooks means:

  1. Receiving the automated notification.

  2. Validating its authenticity.

  3. Processing the data and triggering actions (e.g., order updates).

  4. Ensuring reliability with logs and error handling.

Result: Efficient automation, zero manual work!



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