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APIs and Webhooks

Webhook signature

Webhook signature is a cryptographic proof that a webhook came from the expected sender.

What is webhook signature?

Webhook signature describes a cryptographic proof that a webhook came from the expected sender. In reliability work, the label is useful only when it maps to a measurable check, a clear owner, and a next action when expectations break. Without that operational meaning, the phrase becomes decoration in dashboards and status updates.

Why it matters

Webhook signature matters because teams need a precise shared meaning for a cryptographic proof that a webhook came from the expected sender. Vague language turns incidents into arguments about words instead of fixes.

When everyone uses the same definition, alerts, status updates, and post-incident reviews stay aligned.

How it works

In practice, a cryptographic proof that a webhook came from the expected sender shows up as a concrete signal you can measure or communicate. Operators define what good looks like, watch for deviations, and record what happened when expectations break.

The useful version of webhook signature is operational: it changes who gets notified, what customers see, or which metric a team reviews after an incident.

Practical example

Imagine a team operating around HMAC signature header on a webhook POST. When observed behavior stops matching the definition of webhook signature, the team treats that change as a reliability event with a clear owner and next step.

Common misconception

Signatures are optional decoration

That reading usually collapses distinct ideas into one slogan. Keep webhook signature tied to observable behavior so the definition stays useful under pressure.

How Fajita handles this

Verify signatures before acting on webhooks. See signatures and webhook security.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I skip signature checks?

Anyone who discovers the URL can post forged events. Always verify signatures with your signing secret.

Is HTTPS enough without signatures?

HTTPS protects the channel. Signatures prove the sender. You want both.

Related documentation

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