When building an application that relies on an API, it's essential to choose the right type of API communication depending on your use case, traffic volume, and response time requirements. In this article, we'll explore the differences between synchronous and asynchronous APIs and guide you in choosing between Container Tracking (synchronous API) and Webhook (asynchronous API) for your application.

Key Differences Between Synchronous and Asynchronous APIs

Synchronous API (Pull) - Container Tracking

In a synchronous API, the client sends a request and waits for the server to process it and send back a response before continuing. This method is often referred to as a pull mechanism, where the client "pulls" the information from the server on-demand.

How Container Tracking Works:

The client makes a request to the Container Tracking API for specific data (e.g., the status of a shipment).
The server processes the request and returns the requested information as soon as possible.
The client waits for the response before proceeding with the next action.

Use Cases for Container Tracking:

Testers and Small Users: Ideal for those who have low traffic or only need to occasionally check container statuses.

Simple Queries: When you only need specific, real-time data on demand.

Pros of Container Tracking:

Real-time response: You get the data immediately after the request is processed.

Easy to implement: Ideal for low-complexity applications.

Good for small loads: Works well when the number of requests is manageable, and allow you to handle large response times

Cons of Container Tracking:

Long response times : If your application is sending many requests or dealing with large datasets, response times can increase, slowing down the entire process.

Client is responsible for polling: For updates, you have to continuously make requests to check if there's new data.

Asynchronous API (Push) - Webhook

An asynchronous API operates in a push model where the server sends information to the client when an event occurs. The client does not need to poll or request updates continuously; instead, the server automatically pushes new data to the client when it becomes available.

How Webhook Works:

The client sets up an endpoint to receive updates from the Webhook API.
When a specific event occurs (e.g., container status changes, shipment delays), the server pushes the relevant information to the client’s endpoint.
The client processes the data asynchronously, without needing to request it directly.

Use Cases for Webhook:

Handling High Loads: Perfect for large users or high-traffic systems that would be slowed down by constant polling with a synchronous API.

Long Response Times: If your application experiences long response times with the Container Tracking API, switching to the Webhook API will reduce wait times and improve efficiency.

Shipping line unavailablity: If the shipping lines tou track data with often experience disruption, moving to webhook API will ensure you receive up-to-date data as soon as the connexion is back to normal.

Advanced Features: Webhook also offers additional features, such as detecting and notifying about delays in container shipments, which makes it a better fit for users who need to stay updated without manual polling.

Pros of Webhook:

Reduces load on client and server: Since the server pushes updates only when necessary, this greatly reduces the overhead of continuous polling.

Handles large volumes efficiently: Well-suited for applications with high traffic or users who need frequent updates.

Automatic event notifications: The client is notified when important events occur, such as delays.

Cons of Webhook:

Setup complexity: Requires more setup than a simple request-response model.

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Event-driven: Data is only sent when events occur, so it's not ideal for cases where you need immediate access to non-event data.

When to Choose Container Tracking vs. Webhook

Choose Container Tracking (Synchronous) if:

You are a tester or small user with relatively few API requests.
You need data on-demand and are okay with waiting for the response in real time.
Your traffic is low, and you don't expect performance issues due to load.

Choose Webhook (Asynchronous) if:

You experience long response times with the Container Tracking API.
You handle large volumes of data or frequent requests, which could overwhelm a synchronous API.
You need automatic event notifications like shipment delays.
Your application requires higher efficiency and reduced server load.

Conclusion

Container Tracking (synchronous) is best suited for small users and testers who need real-time data without worrying about performance.
Webhook (asynchronous) is ideal for users handling high loads, large volumes, or long response times, offering additional benefits like delay detection.

For larger applications with performance concerns, we highly recommend transitioning to the Webhook API to reduce overhead and improve responsiveness.