> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.methodfi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Update Lifecycle

> The stages of an Update request and how to track them.

## Update Lifecycle

### Status Transitions

```
pending -> in_progress -> completed
                       -> failed
```

| Status | Description | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| `pending` | Request submitted, queued for processing. | Wait for webhook or poll. |
| `in_progress` | Method is actively retrieving data from the source. | Wait. Direct Updates typically complete within seconds to minutes depending on the institution. |
| `completed` | Data is available. The liability-type object (e.g., `credit_card`) is populated. | Read the data, update your local store, display to user. |
| `failed` | Retrieval was unsuccessful. The `error` object is populated with details. | See [Handling Failures](/guides/updates/failures). |

### Timing Expectations

* **Snapshot Updates:** Cannot be requested on demand. An `update.snapshot` subscription creates them when new bureau data is available. Retrieve them from the Updates list or from the path in the webhook.
* **Direct Updates:** Asynchronous. Typical completion time varies by institution. Most complete within seconds, some may take up to a few minutes. Design your UI to show a loading state and handle the webhook.

### Webhook Events

| Event | When it fires |
| - | - |
| `update.create` | An Update has been created (status: `pending`). |
| `update.update` | An Update's status has changed (typically `pending` to `completed` or `pending` to `failed`). |

Subscribe to `update.update` to react when data is ready. The webhook payload includes the path to retrieve the full Update object.

### Idempotency

If you need to retry a failed Update, use [idempotency keys](/reference/idempotency) to avoid creating duplicate requests.


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