How do events differ from webhooks in the Stripe API?

The distinction between events and webhooks in the Stripe API is fundamental to understanding how data changes are communicated within the system. Events are generated in response to specific actions or changes that occur within the Stripe platform. For example, when a payment is successfully processed or a subscription is updated, an event is created to represent this change.

On the other hand, webhooks serve as a mechanism for conveying these events to external systems or applications. They allow a developer to specify a URL that Stripe will call to deliver the event data when a specific event occurs. This triggers a notification to the external system about the event, enabling it to take appropriate action based on that data.

This relationship means that events are the actual occurrences or notifications of changes that happen within Stripe, while webhooks are the tool used to alert external systems about those occurrences. Understanding this differentiation is crucial for implementing effective integration strategies with the Stripe API, allowing developers to respond to real-time changes in account activity.