n8n Basics

What Is n8n?

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform. It connects apps, services, and APIs visually — no code required for simple workflows, code available when needed.

Unlike Zapier or Make, n8n is self-hostable. Run it on your own server for free (or use their cloud). This matters for privacy, cost at scale, and customization.

Core Concepts

Nodes — individual steps in a workflow. Each node represents one action: "send email," "query database," "call API," "transform data."

Connections — arrows connecting nodes. Data flows from left to right. Each connection passes the output of one node to the input of the next.

Workflows — the complete graph of nodes and connections. A workflow defines one automation.

Triggers — special nodes that start a workflow. Types: webhook (HTTP request), schedule (cron), manual, event (app-specific).

Your First Workflow

Create a simple Slack notification when a form is submitted:

1. Add a Webhook trigger node (this generates a URL you'll post to)
2. Add an HTTP Request node to fetch additional data if needed
3. Add a Slack node — configure with your bot token and message template
4. Activate the workflow

Test it by sending a POST request to the webhook URL.

Data Flow

n8n passes data between nodes as JSON arrays. Each item in the array represents one record. Most nodes can process multiple items in a single execution (looping automatically).

You can access data from previous nodes using expressions: {{ $node["NodeName"].json["field"] }}

When to Choose n8n

n8n works best for: integration-heavy workflows (connecting 3+ services), moderate complexity (too complex for simple webhooks, too simple for custom code), and scenarios where you want visual debugging.