Webhooks for Records

[Sam_Bauch]

Webhooks for records would be really useful.

I’m heavily caching Airtable data on my own server via the API, and if Airtable could notify my server when a record is updated, created, or destroyed, that would help me invalidate the cached data and re-request it.

Ultimately that would mean less calls from my server to the Airtable API, which I imagine would please Airtable.

Are webhooks on the roadmap at all?

[Bill_French]

Marcus_Stenbeck:

real Webhooks in Airtable.

While limited, they now exist in triggered action scripts in case you missed this.

New beta: scripting action Scripting app

:wave: Zach here from the Airtable team. We have a new beta launching soon that may interest anyone who’s been using scripting block. With the scripting action beta, you can trigger a script to automatically run when a record enters a view in an Airtable base. For example, you can run a script when a form is submitted, or when a change is made either inside Airtable or using the Airtable API. If you’d be interested in trying out the scripting action and sharing your feedback, fill out this q…

[Marcus_Stenbeck]

I hadn’t seen that—thanks! :slightly_smiling_face:

Could I use it to detect if a record was changed?

[Bill_French]

Marcus_Stenbeck:

Could I use it to detect if a record was changed?

Indirectly, yes.

If you can move records in and out of a view based on changes, then you can also trigger script actions on those records that appear in a vew.

[Marcus_Stenbeck]

Thanks, I’ll have to experiment with it and see how it works.

[Noamsay]

Do I see (user friendly) webhooks here?

[Wray_Bowling]

I lept into Airtable this morning as soon as I saw the word “automations.” I check this thread regularly. The UI informed me that “[I] cannot run scripts on the current billing plan.” More detail please? I want to try this feature in the most minimal sense but need to know how much it will cost me. :confused:

Documentation on what level of paid subscription is necessary in order to make a “webhook” script. I’d suggest adding a line to the price comparison page like so:

[LukaszWiktor]

@Wray_Bowling the Scripting app is free until March 2021.

[LukaszWiktor]

Ok, so I figured out that it’s possible to send a webhook when a record was updated. You need to:

1. Create a new automation
2. Select “When record updated” as trigger
3. Add “Run script” action with the following code:

_

let inputConfig = input.config();

let response = await fetch('https://your-webhook-url.com/', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify(inputConfig),
    headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
});

You will also have to map the record fields to input variables one by one.

Here is a screenshot of my webhook automation setup:

Similarly, you can send a webhook when record was added. Just change the trigger to "When record created.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to first-class webhooks in Airtable API.

[Dmitry_Si]

@LukaszWiktor you gave me an idea: tools like Integromat support mail hooks. And Gmail notifications are absolutely free (for generic email the target account needs to be a verified collaborator).
So the alternative step would be:

• create Airtable automation as described
• use Gmail action instead of script
• receive triggers as emails

On Integromat’s side I fetch full information about the record and all send it further as a webcall for downstream hook.

[LukaszWiktor]

@Dmitry that’s a clever trick! :clap: