Shopify Webhooks Explained with Real Examples

A webhook works like an HTTP callback, which is a fancy way of saying it gives you real-time updates. When something specific occurs in Shopify, such as a customer making a payment for an order, Shopify sends an HTTP POST request to a unique URL you’ve set up. That URL connects to your app, your server, or even tools like Zapier. It carries details about the event including the order and customer information within a JSON file. 

 Apart from the technical term, you can understand a webhook as; 

“When x happens to Shopify, send a message to URL Y” 

 Why Does it Matter the Most?  

Instead of checking Shopify for updates (which wastes time and resources), webhooks wait for an actual event to trigger them. They run only when something happens, making it more efficient!

How Shopify Webhooks Work (Step-by-Step) 

Let's understand the lifecycle of a Shopify webhook.  

The Trigger:  

A set event in Shopify takes place, like orders/paid. 

The Dispatch:  

Shopify sends a webhook payload as an HTTP POST request to the endpoint URL you’ve chosen. The payload is in JSON format. 

 The Handoff:  

Your endpoint, which might be a script, app, or service like Zapier, picks up the data. 

 Action:  

Your endpoint processes the incoming data and kicks off the next task, such as adjusting inventory, emailing someone, or adding a CRM entry. 

 Confirmation:  

Your endpoint responds with an HTTP 200 OK, letting Shopify know it got the message. If not, Shopify will try again.

Common Shopify Webhook Events You Should Know 

Shopify offers many events to subscribe to. These events help you automate workflows. Below are some popular webhook events: 

Order Events: 

  Product and Inventory Notifications: 

  Customer Alerts: 

Webhooks trigger different processes in your system. They help automate tasks, which would need manual work all the time. 

Shopify Webhook Example (Order Creation)

Imagine you’vesubscribed to orders/create. A customer purchasesa t-shirt, and just like that, Shopify sends the data straight to your URL.

That request could appear as a POST with headers like this: 

  The JSON payload might have things such as:

{

{
  "id": 1234567890,
  "email": "customer@example.com",
  "created_at": "2026-01-26T14:00:00+05:30",
  "line_items": [
    {
      "id": 0987654321,
      "product_id": 1111111111,
      "quantity": 1,
      "price": "19.99",
      "title": "Cool T-Shirt"
    }
  ],
  "shipping_address": {
    "first_name": "John",
    "last_name": "Doe",
    "address1": "123 Main St",
    "city": "Ahmedabad",
    "country": "IN"
  },
  "total_price": "24.99"
}

}

Now the server checks the HMAC, reads the JSON, and might sync it with your ERP system. You can set up the same process to create invoices. It works great. However, be ensure of error before proceeding. 

Use Case: Sync Shopify Orders in Real Time 

The Problem 

Your e-commerce manager spends hours with spreadsheets, adding new orders to the company’s ERP system. This process is slow and often inaccurate, causing orders to be missed. 

The Webhook Solution 

Result 

Each paid order moves into the ERP without manual work. The manager no longer needs the spreadsheet.

Key Fields Inside a Shopify Webhook Payload 

To understand the key fields that matter in orders, include:

id

This shows the unique Shopify ID for the order.

name 

The order number or name as displayed in the admin panel (example: #1001).

created_at / updated_at 

These are the timestamps marking when the order was made and when it was last changed.

email 

The email address of the customer.

total_price 

The overall total of the order given as a string (example: "129.99").

currency 

The currency format represented by its code (example: "USD").

financial_status 

Examples include paid, pending, or refunded.

fulfillment_status

Possible values are fulfilled, partial, or null.

line_items (array) 

A list where each item involves: 

billing_address and shipping_address 

Includes names, street information, city, state or region, country, and zip code.

shipping_lines 

Provides the shipping method details along with the charges involved.

You don’t need to save everything. Most systems keep the pieces necessary to run their business logic.

Shopify Webhooks vs APIs (Quick Context) 

Shopify APIs operate on a pull-based system. You request data when needed, which works well for occasional fetches. Webhooks, on the other hand, use a push-based approach. Shopify notifies you about changes, making them perfect for real-time updates. 

Webhooks come with benefits like efficiency and no rate limit problems from constant polling. However, you must have a dependable endpoint and be prepared to manage retries or duplicates.

Use APIs when you need to perform bulk imports or searches. Use webhooks to keep ongoing syncs updated. These two methods work together; they are not competitors.   

 Common Shopify Webhook Mistakes to Avoid  

Watch for the following mistakes when dealing with Shopify webhooks.  

1. Skipping Notification:  

If you don't check HMACs, you leave yourself open to attacks.

2. Relying on Order:  

Events might not always come in sequence. Use timestamps to fix this.

3. Slow Responses:  

This can result in things like processing the same event twice or double charges. 

5. Setting Up the Wrong URL:  

URLs like localhost or invalid domains won't function. 

6. Using Incompatible Versions:  

Stick to supported API versions to avoid fallback issues.

7. Over-subscribing:  

Signing up for too many topics can overload your system. 

Test everything and keep an eye on your logs. You can rely on third party tools like Hookdeck which can assist with debugging and handling retries.

Conclusion  

Shopify webhooks work behind the scenes to power modern e-commerce automation. They take care of tedious tasks, keep data moving between systems, and help you respond to customers as things happen. Whether it's syncing orders, greeting new customers, or managing inventory, webhooks handle it for you, no extra effort is required. 

To get started, set up a customers/create a webhook. Use it to trigger a welcome email through Zapier or Mailchimp. It’s a simple way to see how real-time automation saves time and boosts efficiency. It’s very straightforward to use and manage.  

Looking to level up your store game? Connect with Lucent Innovation today to get A to Z Shopify development services and boost your ecommerce revenue.