Webhook notifications can arrive more than once or out of order. A system that assumes a single, perfectly timed delivery can make duplicate changes.
The decision to make
Use the provider's documented verification method and store a stable event identifier. Separate receipt from successful processing.
Practical checklist
- Validate the event before changing records.
- Track processing status and retries.
- Reconcile important state with the source system.
An illustrative example
A subscription event repeated after a timeout should not grant an extra entitlement or create a duplicate invoice entry.
Your next step
Design the consumer around repeatable processing and inspect failed events instead of treating receipt as completion.
AI-assisted planning guide published by Prime Pixels. Examples are illustrative, not customer case studies. Project scope and applicable requirements must be checked for your circumstances.