Polling Triggers
What are Triggers?
Triggers are the starting point of an automation. They monitor specific events or conditions and automatically launch your workflow when those events occur.
How viaSocket Detects Triggers
viaSocket connects to the application's API to monitor events.
The trigger type depends on the capabilities provided by that application's API.
Applications generally support one of two trigger types:
Instant Triggers (Webhook-based)
Polling Triggers (API-based periodic checks)
Polling Triggers
Polling Triggers periodically check an application for new or updated data instead of receiving updates in real time.
How They Work
viaSocket checks the connected application's API at scheduled intervals (e.g., every 15 minutes).
It requests any new or updated data since the last check.
The retrieved data is analyzed for relevant changes.
If a matching event is found, the automation workflow is triggered.
Example: Notion
Suppose you want to start a workflow whenever a new database item is created in Notion:
viaSocket checks Notion every 15 minutes.
It looks for records added since the previous check.
If new items are found, the workflow runs automatically.
Common Use Cases
RSS Feeds: Check every 15 minutes for new blog posts.
E-commerce Platforms: Check inventory levels every hour and send alerts when stock is low.
Social Media: Monitor mentions or messages every 30 minutes and trigger automated responses.
Instant vs Polling Triggers
Instant Triggers | Polling Triggers |
|---|---|
Real-time updates | Scheduled checks |
Uses webhooks | Uses API requests |
Runs immediately when an event occurs | Runs when new data is found during a check |
Best for time-sensitive workflows | Best when real-time updates are not required |
Key Takeaway
If an application supports webhooks, viaSocket can use Instant Triggers for real-time automation.
If webhooks are unavailable, viaSocket uses Polling Triggers to periodically fetch updates through the application's API.
This ensures automations work reliably regardless of the application's technical capabilities.
