Page 2: Core Concepts: Nodes, Workflows, Triggers

2. Core Concepts: Nodes, Workflows, Triggers

All automation in n8n is built around three core concepts: Nodes, Workflows, and Triggers.

2.1. Nodes

Nodes are the individual building blocks of a workflow. They perform specific functions, such as fetching data, transforming it, or sending it to another service. n8n offers hundreds of built-in nodes (e.g., HTTP Request, Google Sheets, Email, Code, etc.).

2.2. Workflows

A Workflow is an automated process consisting of one or more nodes connected in a logical sequence. Data flows from one node to the next, with each node performing an operation on the data.

2.3. Triggers

Trigger nodes are special types of nodes that initiate a workflow. They ensure the workflow runs when a specific event occurs.

• Webhook Trigger: Runs the workflow when an HTTP request is sent to a specific URL.
• Cron Trigger: Runs the workflow at a specified schedule (e.g., daily, hourly).
• App-specific Trigger: Runs the workflow when an event occurs in a particular app (e.g., Slack, GitHub).

2.4. Creating Your First Workflow (Example)

Let\'s create a simple Webhook trigger workflow:

1. In the n8n UI, click \'New Workflow\'.
2. Add a \'Webhook\' node and connect it to \'Add Output\'.
3. Add a \'Respond to Webhook\' node and connect it to the Webhook node.
4. Click on the Respond to Webhook node to open its settings panel. In the \'Response Body\', enter a simple JSON object (e.g., `{ "status": "success", "message": "Hello from n8n!" }`).
5. Activate the workflow and send a test request to the Webhook node\'s URL.

// Example Response Body for Respond to Webhook node
{
  "status": "success",
  "message": "Hello from n8n!"
}