What is the main distinction between an event and a webhook in the Stripe API?

The correct distinction lies in the fundamental roles that events and webhooks play within the Stripe API. An event essentially serves as a representation of a specific change in state regarding resource data in the Stripe ecosystem, such as a successful payment or a change in subscription status. Each time a significant action occurs, an event is generated to reflect this change.

On the other hand, a webhook functions as a mechanism to notify your server whenever certain events occur. When you configure a webhook in Stripe, you specify which events you want to receive notifications about. When those events are triggered, Stripe sends an HTTP POST request containing details about the event to the specified endpoint on your server. This process allows your application to respond to events in real-time without needing to continuously poll the API for updates.

By understanding this distinction, it's clear that while events are about capturing specific changes in state, webhooks provide a way to communicate those changes to your application, enabling it to react accordingly. This understanding is vital for effectively integrating and working with the Stripe API.