Microsoft Graph Webhooks - Simply Explained

Are you still wasting resources by constantly polling Microsoft Graph for changes? In this episode of Microsoft Knowledge Nuggets, host Mirko Peters explains why webhooks are the superior way to get real-time updates without hitting throttling limits or landing in graph jail. Learn how to move away from the noise of constant API calls and transition to a more efficient event-driven architecture. We cover everything from the basic definition of a webhook as a reverse API to the technical details of the validation handshake and subscription management. Whether you are building automated HR onboarding flows, tracking SharePoint document changes, or monitoring Teams messages, understanding these change notifications is essential for any modern Microsoft 365 developer. Key topics in this video include: 👋 Why polling leads to performance issues and throttling 👋 Setting up your first subscription with the correct parameters 👋 Navigating the validation handshake and TLS requirements 👋 Securing your endpoint using client state validation 👋 Tips for responding within the critical 3-second window 👋 Combining webhooks with Delta Query for a bulletproof sync strategy Chapters 0:00 Intro to Microsoft Knowledge Nuggets 1:16 The Problem with Polling and Graph Jail 4:40 Understanding Webhooks and Change Notifications 7:15 The Three Pillars of Graph Webhooks 9:44 How to Create a Subscription Step by Step 12:00 The Validation Handshake Explained 14:05 Security and Handling Notifications Fast 16:30 Subscription Lifecycle and Delta Query Safety 18:00 Real World Use Case and Final Thoughts Stop polling and start listening to make your integrations faster and more reliable. If you found this breakdown helpful, make sure to subscribe for more M365 insights and share this video with your fellow developers! #MicrosoftGraph #Webhooks #M365 #Microsoft365 #SoftwareDevelopment