Unit 2 of 3
API Styles and Webhooks
12 min
+100 points
Learning objectives
When you finish this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe common usage patterns related to webhooks.
- Identify the constraints when consuming APIs.
- Compare common API styles (REST, RPC, synchronous, and asynchronous).
API styles and integration patterns
Webhooks
Webhooks push event notifications to a callback URL when something happens, rather than requiring the client to poll repeatedly.
Constraints when consuming APIs
Rate limits, authentication requirements, pagination, versioning, and payload size limits affect how you integrate with APIs.
API styles
- REST: resource-oriented, uses HTTP methods.
- RPC: remote procedure calls, action-oriented endpoints.
- Synchronous: client waits for response before continuing.
- Asynchronous: client receives acknowledgment and checks status later.
Exam focus: distinguish API styles and recognize when webhooks or async patterns apply.