Implement webhooks

This guide provides various samples for implementing webhooks as well as webhook troubleshooting recommendations.

Set a session parameter

The following samples show how to set a session parameter.

Go

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

See the Webhooks quick start.

Java

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

// TODO: Change class name to Example
// TODO: Uncomment the line below before running cloud function
// package com.example;

import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpFunction;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpRequest;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpResponse;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;

public class WebhookConfigureSessionParameters implements HttpFunction {
  @Override
  public void service(HttpRequest request, HttpResponse response) throws Exception {
    JsonObject orderParameter = new JsonObject();
    orderParameter.addProperty("order_number", "12345");

    JsonObject parameterObject = new JsonObject();
    parameterObject.add("parameters", orderParameter);

    // Creates webhook response object
    JsonObject webhookResponse = new JsonObject();
    webhookResponse.add("session_info", parameterObject);

    Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().setPrettyPrinting().create();
    String jsonResponseObject = gson.toJson(webhookResponse);

    /** { "session_info": { "parameters": { "order_number": "12345" } } } */
    BufferedWriter writer = response.getWriter();
    // Sends the webhookResponseObject
    writer.write(jsonResponseObject.toString());
  }
}

Node.js

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

const functions = require('@google-cloud/functions-framework');

functions.http('configureSessionParams', (request, response) => {
  // Session parameter configured by the webhook
  const orderNumber = 123;

  const jsonResponse = {
    sessionInfo: {
      parameters: {
        orderNumber: orderNumber,
      },
    },
  };

  response.send(jsonResponse);
});

Python

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import functions_framework

# TODO (developer): change entry point to configure_session_params in Cloud Function


@functions_framework.http
def configure_session_params(request):
    """Webhook to validate or configure new session parameters."""

    order_number = 123

    json_response = {
        "sessionInfo": {
            "parameters": {
                "orderNumber": order_number,
            },
        },
    }

    return json_response

Return a fulfillment response

The following samples show how to return a fulfillment response.

Note: It is a best practice to set session parameters instead of fulfillment responses. This allows the agent fulfillment to consistently control dynamic responses.

Go

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

See the Webhooks quick start.

Java

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

// TODO: Change class name to Example
// TODO: add GSON dependency to Pom file
// (https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.google.code.gson/gson/2.8.5)
// TODO: Uncomment the line bellow before running cloud function
// package com.example;

import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpFunction;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpRequest;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpResponse;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;

public class BasicWebhook implements HttpFunction {
  @Override
  public void service(HttpRequest request, HttpResponse response) throws Exception {
    Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().create();
    JsonObject parsedRequest = gson.fromJson(request.getReader(), JsonObject.class);

    // For more information on the structure of this object https://cloud.google.com/dialogflow/cx/docs/reference/rest/v3/Fulfillment
    String requestTag = parsedRequest.getAsJsonObject("fulfillmentInfo")
        .getAsJsonPrimitive("tag").toString();
    JsonObject responseObject = null;
    String defaultIntent = "\"Default Welcome Intent\"";
    String secondIntent = "\"get-agent-name\"";
    String responseText = "";

    // Compares the Intent Tag to provide the correct response 
    if (requestTag.equals(defaultIntent)) {
      responseText = "\"Hello from a Java GCF Webhook\"";
    } else if (requestTag.equals(secondIntent)) {
      responseText = "\"My name is Flowhook\"";
    } else {
      responseText = "\"Sorry I didn't get that\"";
    }

    // Constructing the response jsonObject 
    responseObject =
        JsonParser
            .parseString(
                "{ \"fulfillment_response\": { \"messages\": [ { \"text\": { \"text\": ["
                    + responseText
                    + "] } } ] } }")
            .getAsJsonObject();
    BufferedWriter writer = response.getWriter();

    //Sends the responseObject
    writer.write(responseObject.toString());
  }
}

Node.js

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

const functions = require('@google-cloud/functions-framework');

functions.http('handleWebhook', (request, response) => {
  const tag = request.body.fulfillmentInfo.tag;
  let text = '';

  if (tag === 'Default Welcome Intent') {
    text = 'Hello from a GCF Webhook';
  } else if (tag === 'get-name') {
    text = 'My name is Flowhook';
  } else {
    text = `There are no fulfillment responses defined for "${tag}"" tag`;
  }

  const jsonResponse = {
    fulfillment_response: {
      messages: [
        {
          text: {
            //fulfillment text response to be sent to the agent
            text: [text],
          },
        },
      ],
    },
  };

  response.send(jsonResponse);
});

Python

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import functions_framework

# TODO(developer): change entry point to handle_webhook in cloud function


@functions_framework.http
def handle_webhook(request):
    req = request.get_json()

    tag = req["fulfillmentInfo"]["tag"]

    if tag == "Default Welcome Intent":
        text = "Hello from a GCF Webhook"
    elif tag == "get-name":
        text = "My name is Flowhook"
    else:
        text = f"There are no fulfillment responses defined for {tag} tag"

    # You can also use the google.cloud.dialogflowcx_v3.types.WebhookRequest protos instead of manually writing the json object
    # Please see https://googleapis.dev/python/dialogflow/latest/dialogflow_v2/types.html?highlight=webhookresponse#google.cloud.dialogflow_v2.types.WebhookResponse for an overview
    res = {"fulfillment_response": {"messages": [{"text": {"text": [text]}}]}}

    # Returns json
    return res

Set form parameters as required

The following samples show how to flag a parameter as required.

Java

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

// TODO: Change class name to Example
// TODO: Uncomment the line below before running cloud function
// package com.example;

import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpFunction;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpRequest;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpResponse;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
import com.google.gson.JsonArray;
import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;

public class ConfigureWebhookToSetFormParametersAsOptionalOrRequired implements HttpFunction {
  @Override
  public void service(HttpRequest request, HttpResponse response) throws Exception {
    JsonObject parameterObject = new JsonObject();
    parameterObject.addProperty("display_name", "order_number");
    parameterObject.addProperty("required", "true");
    parameterObject.addProperty("state", "VALID");

    JsonArray parameterInfoList = new JsonArray();
    parameterInfoList.add(parameterObject);

    JsonObject parameterInfoObject = new JsonObject();
    parameterInfoObject.add("parameter_info", parameterInfoList);

    JsonObject formInfo = new JsonObject();
    formInfo.add("form_info", parameterInfoObject);

    // Constructs the webhook response object
    JsonObject webhookResponse = new JsonObject();
    webhookResponse.add("page_info", formInfo);

    Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().setPrettyPrinting().create();
    String jsonResponseObject = gson.toJson(webhookResponse);

    /* {
     *   "page_info": {
     *     "form_info": {
     *       "parameter_info": [
     *         {
     *           "display_name": "order_number",
     *           "required": "true",
     *           "state": "VALID"
     *         }
     *       ]
     *     }
     *   }
     * }
     */

    BufferedWriter writer = response.getWriter();

    // Sends the responseObject
    writer.write(jsonResponseObject.toString());
  }
}

Node.js

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

const functions = require('@google-cloud/functions-framework');

functions.http('configureOptionalFormParam', (request, response) => {
  // The value of the parameter that the webhook will set as optional or required.
  // Note that the webhook cannot add or remove any form parameter

  const jsonResponse = {
    pageInfo: {
      formInfo: {
        parameterInfo: [
          {
            displayName: 'order-number',
            // if required: false, the agent will not reprompt for this parameter, even if the state is 'INVALID'
            required: true,
            state: 'VALID',
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  };

  // Info about form parameter that is sent in the webhook response:
  console.log(
    'Parameter Info: \n',
    jsonResponse.pageInfo.formInfo.parameterInfo[0]
  );

  response.send(jsonResponse);
});

Validate a form parameter

The following samples show how to validate a form parameter.

Java

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

// TODO: Change class name to Example
// TODO: Uncomment the line below before running cloud function
// package com.example;

import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpFunction;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpRequest;
import com.google.cloud.functions.HttpResponse;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
import com.google.gson.JsonArray;
import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;

public class WebhookValidateFormParameter implements HttpFunction {
  @Override
  public void service(HttpRequest request, HttpResponse response) throws Exception {
    JsonObject sessionInfo = new JsonObject();
    JsonObject sessionParameter = new JsonObject();

    sessionParameter.addProperty("order_number", "null");
    sessionInfo.add("parameters", sessionParameter);

    JsonObject parameterObject = new JsonObject();
    parameterObject.addProperty("display_name", "order_number");
    parameterObject.addProperty("required", "true");
    parameterObject.addProperty("state", "INVALID");
    parameterObject.addProperty("value", "123");

    JsonArray parameterInfoList = new JsonArray();
    parameterInfoList.add(parameterObject);

    JsonObject parameterInfoObject = new JsonObject();
    parameterInfoObject.add("parameter_info", parameterInfoList);

    JsonObject pageInfo = new JsonObject();
    pageInfo.add("form_info", parameterInfoObject);

    // Constructs the webhook response object
    JsonObject webhookResponse = new JsonObject();
    webhookResponse.add("page_info", pageInfo);
    webhookResponse.add("session_info", sessionInfo);

    Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().setPrettyPrinting().create();
    String jsonResponseObject = gson.toJson(webhookResponse);

    /**
     * { "page_info": { "form_info": { "parameter_info": [ { "display_name": "order_number",
     * "required": "true", "state": "INVALID", "value": "123" } ] } }, "session_info": {
     * "parameters": { "order_number": "null" } } }
     */
    BufferedWriter writer = response.getWriter();

    // Sends the responseObject
    writer.write(jsonResponseObject.toString());
  }
}

Node.js

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

const functions = require('@google-cloud/functions-framework');

functions.http('validateParameter', (request, response) => {
  // Webhook will validate or invalidate parameter based on logic configured by the user.
  // Access parameter values through the webhook request via `request.body.pageInfo.formInfo.parameterInfo[]`
  const jsonResponse = {
    page_info: {
      form_info: {
        parameter_info: [
          {
            displayName: 'orderNumber',
            required: true,
            state: 'INVALID',
            value: 123,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
    sessionInfo: {
      parameters: {
        // Set session parameter to null if the form parameter is 'INVALID' and your agent needs to reprompt the user
        orderNumber: null,
      },
    },
  };

  response.send(jsonResponse);
});

Python

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import functions_framework


@functions_framework.http
def validate_parameter(request):
    """Webhook will validate or invalidate parameter based on logic configured by the user."""
    return {
        "page_info": {
            "form_info": {
                "parameter_info": [
                    {
                        "displayName": "orderNumber",
                        "required": True,
                        "state": "INVALID",
                        "value": 123,
                    },
                ],
            },
        },
        "sessionInfo": {
            "parameters": {
                # Set session parameter to None if the form parameter is 'INVALID' and your agent needs to reprompt the user
                "orderNumber": None,
            },
        },
    }

Log session ID

The following sample shows how to log the session ID from a webhook request.

Python

To authenticate to Dialogflow, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import re

import functions_framework


@functions_framework.http
def log_session_id_for_troubleshooting(request):
    """Webhook will log session id corresponding to request."""

    req = request.get_json()
    # You can read more about SessionInfo at https://cloud.google.com/dialogflow/cx/docs/reference/rest/v3/SessionInfo
    # Use a regex pattern to get the session ID
    session_id_regex = r".+\/sessions\/(.+)"
    session = req["sessionInfo"]["session"]
    regex_match = re.search(session_id_regex, session)
    session_id = regex_match.group(1)

    # Instead of printing, use the logging tools available to you
    print(f"Debug Node: session ID = {session_id}")

    # Return a generic response
    res = {
        "fulfillment_response": {
            "messages": [{"text": {"text": [f"Request Session ID: {session_id}"]}}]
        }
    }

    # Returns json
    return res

Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a webhook, it is helpful to log the session ID from your webhook. The sessionInfo.session field of the WebhookRequest contains the session ID. The session ID should be unique for each conversation, and it can help you compare agent logs against webhook logs for requests using the same session ID. The Log session ID section above shows how to log the session ID from a webhook.

In addition, if you are hosting your webhook on Cloud Functions or a similar Google Cloud serverless option, you can use the trace field from log entries as a log filter. A single execution of a function results in multiple log entries with the same trace value.

The example below uses both the session ID and the trace value to associate a particular Conversational Agents (Dialogflow CX) agent error log with the corresponding Cloud Functions webhook log entries. The example uses Cloud Logging Filters for an agent that has enabled Cloud Logging.

1. Filter Conversational Agents (Dialogflow CX) logs for a particular agent's error logs

Use the following Cloud logging filter to filter your Conversational Agents (Dialogflow CX) logs for a particular agent's error logs:

labels.location_id="global"
labels.agent_id="AGENT_ID"
severity=ERROR

A webhook log error entry looks like the following:

{
  "insertId": "-zi368ye1ie3r",
  "jsonPayload": {
    "message": "Webhook error: State: URL_UNREACHABLE, Reason: UNREACHABLE_5xx, HTTP status code: 500",
    "code": 14
  },
  "resource": {
    "type": "global",
    "labels": {
      "project_id": "PROJECT_ID"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2022-10-05T19:44:53.098938Z",
  "severity": "ERROR",
  "labels": {
    "session_id": "ec8781-f28-7e6-791-d7e992e8f",
    "location_id": "global",
    "agent_id": "807346f0-f501-42b5-9642-af59d5e98165"
  },
  "logName": "projects/PROJECT_ID/logs/dialogflow-runtime.googleapis.com%2Frequests",
  "receiveTimestamp": "2022-10-05T19:44:53.222552658Z"
}

Note the labels.session_id field, which contains the session ID. You will use the session ID in the next step.

2. Filter Cloud Function logs for the session ID

Use the following Cloud logging filter to filter your Cloud Function logs for the session ID:

Note: This filter assumes you have logged the session ID using the exact same text as the Log session ID sample above.

resource.type = "cloud_function"
resource.labels.function_name = "CLOUD_FUNCTION_NAME"
resource.labels.region = "CLOUD_FUNCTION_REGION"
textPayload="Debug Node: session ID = SESSION_ID"

The resulting logs correspond to webhook logs made during the provided session. For example:

{
  "textPayload": "Debug Node: session ID = ec8781-f28-7e6-791-d7e992e8f",
  "insertId": "632bdb2b000b7c6c77d0cc62",
  "resource": {
    "type": "cloud_function",
    "labels": {
      "project_id": "PROJECT_ID",
      "function_name": "webhook",
      "region": "us-central1"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2022-10-05T19:44:53.098938Z",
  "severity": "INFO",
  "labels": {
    "execution_id": "ozt5bnz50eeo",
    "instance_id": "00c61b117c1f116421aa5503bc80f9aa636b9ef117bb2722f3d54414085e62be6e55af0aa0250a63534262b31a3d3a14af8c940203f1915db8b25b"
  },
  "logName": "projects/PROJECT_ID/logs/cloudfunctions.googleapis.com%2Fcloud-functions",
  "trace": "projects/PROJECT_ID/traces/e41eefc1fac48665b442bfa400cc2f5e",
  "receiveTimestamp": "2022-10-05T19:44:53.222552658Z"
}

Note the trace field which is used in the next step.

3. Filter Cloud Function logs for a particular trace

Use the following Cloud Logging filter to filter Cloud Function logs for a particular trace:

resource.type = "cloud_function"
resource.labels.function_name = "CLOUD_FUNCTION_NAME"
resource.labels.region = "CLOUD_FUNCTION_REGION"
trace="projects/PROJECT_ID/traces/TRACE_ID"

where TRACE_ID is the last segment of trace. For example the TRACE_ID for projects/PROJECT_ID/traces/e41eefc1fac48665b442bfa400cc2f5e is e41eefc1fac48665b442bfa400cc2f5e.

The resulting logs correspond to all webhook logs generated during the execution of the webhook request associated with the session ID from step 1 and with the trace from step 2.