GlossaryConceptUpdated September 2026

Polling

noun · also: webhook, trigger, rate-limit

What is polling?

Polling is when an automation platform repeatedly asks an API 'anything new?' on a schedule, used when the API doesn't expose webhooks.

Definition

Full definition of polling

Polling is the fallback for apps that don't offer webhooks. A polling trigger hits the third-party API on a fixed interval and looks for new records since the last check. It's less timely than webhooks but works against any API. For high-frequency events, polling adds latency and consumes API rate-limit budget — webhooks are always preferred when available.

In practice

Polling examples

Pollable trigger
Some legacy CRMs only allow polling for new contacts every 5 minutes.
Used by

Apps that exemplify polling

See polling in action across real integrations.

FAQ

Common questions about polling

Can I change the polling interval?
Tiny Command does not set polling intervals by plan. A scheduled workflow can run as often as every minute on any plan.

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