Webhooks Setup

Webhooks allow you to receive real-time HTTP notifications when call events occur in your application, such as incoming calls, call completions, recordings, and voicemails. For general webhook concepts, see Webhooks.

Creating a Webhook

Subscribe to calling events by creating a webhook for your application. Via Dashboard

Navigate to your application’s Webhooks page
Click “Create Webhook”
Enter your webhook URL
Select the calling events you want to receive
(Optional) Add custom headers for authentication
Save the webhook

Via API Use the POST /v1/webhooks endpoint with calling event types:

Create Calling Webhook

curl -X POST https://api.buildwithchirp.com/v1/webhooks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_APP_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://your-app.com/webhooks/chirp",
    "events": [
      "calls.initiated",
      "calls.answered",
      "calls.completed",
      "calls.failed",
      "calls.recording.completed",
      "calls.voicemail.received"
    ],
    "headers": {
      "X-Webhook-Secret": "your-secret-key"
    }
  }'

Webhook Payload Structure

Every calling webhook includes these top-level fields:

Field	Type	Description
`event`	string	The event type (e.g., `calls.completed`)
`eventId`	string	Unique event identifier for idempotency
`timestamp`	string	ISO 8601 timestamp of when the event was generated
`data`	object	Event-specific data including `call` and `app` objects

Call Data

The data.call object is present in all calling webhooks and includes:

Field	Type	Description
`id`	string	Unique call identifier (e.g., `call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI`)
`direction`	string	`inbound` or `outbound`
`from`	string	Phone number or identifier that initiated the call
`to`	string	Phone number or identifier that received the call
`fromChannel`	string	Channel of the originator: `pstn`, `whatsapp`, or `webrtc`
`toChannel`	string	Channel of the recipient: `pstn`, `whatsapp`, or `webrtc`
`livekitRoomName`	string	LiveKit room name (present when channel is `webrtc`)
`metadata`	object	Custom metadata attached to the call (if any)

Call Lifecycle Events

These events track the progress of a call from initiation to completion.

`calls.initiated`

Fired when a call is created (outbound) or an incoming call is received (inbound).

calls.initiated payload

{
  "event": "calls.initiated",
  "eventId": "evt_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.ringing`

Fired when an outbound call is ringing at the destination.

calls.ringing payload

{
  "event": "calls.ringing",
  "eventId": "evt_3EcCt8HXiHwWOKHsEYs6SH1nCXJ",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:02.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.answered`

Fired when the call is answered. Includes answeredAt and answeredBy fields.

calls.answered payload

{
  "event": "calls.answered",
  "eventId": "evt_4FdDu9IYjIxXPLItFZt7TI2oDYK",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:05.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn",
      "answeredAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:05.000Z",
      "answeredBy": "+15559876543"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.completed`

Fired when a call ends normally. Includes duration, endReason, and endedAt fields.

calls.completed payload

{
  "event": "calls.completed",
  "eventId": "evt_5GeEv0JZkJyYQMJuGAu8UJ3pEZL",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:32:00.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn",
      "duration": 120,
      "endReason": "hangup",
      "endedAt": "2024-01-15T10:32:00.000Z"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.failed`

Fired when a call fails. Includes an error object with details about the failure.

calls.failed payload

{
  "event": "calls.failed",
  "eventId": "evt_6HfFw1KAlKzZRNKvHBv9VK4qFAM",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:03.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    },
    "error": {
      "type": "provider_error",
      "code": "call_failed",
      "message": "The call could not be connected. The destination number may be unreachable."
    }
  }
}

`calls.no_answer`

Fired when no one answers the call.

calls.no_answer payload

{
  "event": "calls.no_answer",
  "eventId": "evt_8JhHy3MCnMBBTPOxJDx1XM6sHCO",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:30.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

Participant Events

These events track participants joining and leaving a call.

`calls.participant_joined`

Fired when a participant joins the call.

calls.participant_joined payload

{
  "event": "calls.participant_joined",
  "eventId": "evt_0LjJA5OEpQDDVRQzLFz3ZO8uJEQ",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:05.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "participant": {
      "id": "part_abc123",
      "type": "phone",
      "displayName": "John Doe",
      "phoneNumber": "+15559876543",
      "joinedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:05.000Z"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.participant_left`

Fired when a participant leaves the call. Includes the participant’s duration and leftAt timestamp.

calls.participant_left payload

{
  "event": "calls.participant_left",
  "eventId": "evt_1MkKB6PFqREEWSRAMGA4AP9vKFR",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:32:00.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "participant": {
      "id": "part_abc123",
      "type": "phone",
      "displayName": "John Doe",
      "phoneNumber": "+15559876543",
      "joinedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:05.000Z",
      "duration": 115,
      "leftAt": "2024-01-15T10:32:00.000Z"
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

Recording and Voicemail Events

`calls.recording.completed`

Fired when a call recording has finished processing and is available for download.

calls.recording.completed payload

{
  "event": "calls.recording.completed",
  "eventId": "evt_2NlLC7QGrSFFXTSBNHB5BQ0wLGS",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:33:00.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "outbound",
      "from": "+15551234567",
      "to": "+15559876543",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "recording": {
      "id": "call_rec_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "duration": 120,
      "url": "https://storage.buildwithchirp.com/recordings/call_rec_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI.mp4?signed=...",
      "format": "mp4",
      "size": 1048576
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

`calls.voicemail.received`

Fired when a voicemail is left. Includes the voicemail audio URL and transcription (when available).

calls.voicemail.received payload

{
  "event": "calls.voicemail.received",
  "eventId": "evt_3OmMD8RHsTGGYUSCOIC6CR1xMHT",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:31:30.000Z",
  "data": {
    "call": {
      "id": "call_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "direction": "inbound",
      "from": "+15559876543",
      "to": "+15551234567",
      "fromChannel": "pstn",
      "toChannel": "pstn"
    },
    "voicemail": {
      "id": "call_vm_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI",
      "duration": 30,
      "url": "https://storage.buildwithchirp.com/voicemails/call_vm_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI.mp4?signed=...",
      "transcription": "Hi, please call me back when you get a chance."
    },
    "app": {
      "id": "app_2DbBs7GWhGvVNJGrDXr5RG0mBWI"
    }
  }
}

The transcription field may be null if transcription is not enabled or still processing. You can retrieve the transcription later using the voicemail API endpoints.

The url fields in recording and voicemail webhook payloads are time-limited signed URLs. If you need to access the file later, use the Recordings API to generate a fresh URL.

Event Summary

Event	Description
`calls.initiated`	Call created (outbound) or incoming call received (inbound)
`calls.ringing`	Outbound call is ringing at the destination
`calls.answered`	Call was answered
`calls.completed`	Call ended normally
`calls.failed`	Call failed with an error
`calls.no_answer`	No one answered the call
`calls.participant_joined`	A participant joined the call
`calls.participant_left`	A participant left the call
`calls.recording.completed`	Recording finished processing and is available
`calls.voicemail.received`	A voicemail was left

Handling Calling Webhooks

Here is an example of how to handle calling webhooks in your application:

Handle Calling Webhooks

app.post("/webhooks/chirp", (req, res) => {
  // Acknowledge immediately
  res.status(200).send("OK");

  const { event, eventId, data } = req.body;

  switch (event) {
    case "calls.initiated":
      console.log(`Call ${data.call.id} initiated (${data.call.direction})`);
      break;

    case "calls.completed":
      console.log(`Call ${data.call.id} completed after ${data.call.duration}s`);
      break;

    case "calls.failed":
      console.error(`Call ${data.call.id} failed: ${data.error.message}`);
      break;

    case "calls.recording.completed":
      console.log(`Recording available: ${data.recording.url}`);
      break;

    case "calls.voicemail.received":
      console.log(`Voicemail from ${data.call.from}: ${data.voicemail.transcription ?? "(transcription pending)"}`);

      break;

    default:
      console.log(`Unhandled event: ${event}`);
  }
});

Use the eventId field to implement idempotency. Track processed event IDs to prevent handling the same event twice if it is delivered more than once.

Getting Started

Concepts

Webhooks

SMS

WhatsApp

Calling

Resources

Webhooks Setup

Creating a Webhook

Webhook Payload Structure

Call Data

Call Lifecycle Events

`calls.initiated`

`calls.ringing`

`calls.answered`

`calls.completed`

`calls.failed`

`calls.no_answer`

Participant Events

`calls.participant_joined`

`calls.participant_left`

Recording and Voicemail Events

`calls.recording.completed`

`calls.voicemail.received`

Event Summary

Handling Calling Webhooks

​Creating a Webhook

​Webhook Payload Structure

​Call Data

​Call Lifecycle Events

​calls.initiated

​calls.ringing

​calls.answered

​calls.completed

​calls.failed

​calls.no_answer

​Participant Events

​calls.participant_joined

​calls.participant_left

​Recording and Voicemail Events

​calls.recording.completed

​calls.voicemail.received

​Event Summary

​Handling Calling Webhooks

Creating a Webhook

Webhook Payload Structure

Call Data

Call Lifecycle Events

`calls.initiated`

`calls.ringing`

`calls.answered`

`calls.completed`

`calls.failed`

`calls.no_answer`

Participant Events

`calls.participant_joined`

`calls.participant_left`

Recording and Voicemail Events

`calls.recording.completed`

`calls.voicemail.received`

Event Summary

Handling Calling Webhooks