Webhooks provide a powerful way for applications to receive real-time data and communication from other services. They are different from APIs, which follow a synchronous request-response model, and instead use an asynchronous and event-driven approach to send data automatically when specific events occur. To handle webhooks effectively, developers need to understand their basic components, including URL, event, payload, headers, secret/signature, retry policy, and webhook response. Implementing secure authentication, scaling the application, and handling errors are also crucial aspects of webhook integration. The text provides a step-by-step guide on building a real-time integration with webhooks using GitHub as an example, and discusses how to handle common challenges such as security, data handling, and scaling, as well as how to use platforms like Nango to simplify the process of integrating multiple services.