n8n Workflow Automation Skill

This skill enables creating and managing n8n workflows for automation tasks.

Prerequisites

n8n instance running with API access:

N8N_HOST=localhost N8N_PORT=5678 N8N_API_KEY=your-api-key

Core Concepts

Workflow Structure

Every n8n workflow is JSON with this structure:

{ "name": "Workflow Name", "nodes": [], "connections": {}, "settings": { "executionOrder": "v1" } }

Node Structure

Each node has:

{ "id": "unique-id", "name": "Display Name", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.nodetype", "typeVersion": 1, "position": [x, y], "parameters": {}, "credentials": {} }

Connection Structure

Connections define data flow between nodes:

{ "Source Node": { "main": [ [{"node": "Target Node", "type": "main", "index": 0}] ] } }

Common Workflow Patterns

1. Webhook-Triggered Workflow

Creates an HTTP endpoint that triggers workflow execution:

{ "name": "Webhook Handler", "nodes": [ { "id": "webhook", "name": "Webhook", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook", "typeVersion": 2, "position": [250, 300], "webhookId": "my-webhook", "parameters": { "path": "my-endpoint", "httpMethod": "POST", "responseMode": "responseNode" } }, { "id": "respond", "name": "Respond", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook", "typeVersion": 1.1, "position": [450, 300], "parameters": { "respondWith": "json", "responseBody": "={{ $json }}" } } ], "connections": { "Webhook": { "main": [[{"node": "Respond", "type": "main", "index": 0}]] } } }

Access at: http://localhost:5678/webhook/my-endpoint

2. HTTP Request Pattern

Make external API calls:

{ "id": "http", "name": "HTTP Request", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest", "typeVersion": 4.2, "position": [450, 300], "parameters": { "method": "POST", "url": "https://api.example.com/endpoint", "authentication": "predefinedCredentialType", "nodeCredentialType": "myApiCredential", "sendBody": true, "specifyBody": "json", "jsonBody": "={{ JSON.stringify($json) }}" }, "credentials": { "myApiCredential": {"id": "cred-id", "name": "My Credential"} } }

3. Conditional Branching (IF Node)

Route data based on conditions:

{ "id": "if", "name": "IF", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if", "typeVersion": 2, "position": [450, 300], "parameters": { "conditions": { "options": { "caseSensitive": true, "leftValue": "", "typeValidation": "strict" }, "conditions": [ { "leftValue": "={{ $json.status }}", "rightValue": "success", "operator": { "type": "string", "operation": "equals" } } ], "combinator": "and" } } }

4. Loop Over Items (SplitInBatches)

Process items in batches:

{ "id": "batch", "name": "Loop Over Items", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches", "typeVersion": 3, "position": [450, 300], "parameters": { "batchSize": 10, "options": {} } }

n8n REST API

List Workflows

curl -s "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"

Get Workflow

curl -s "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/{id}"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"

Create Workflow

curl -s -X POST "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-d '{"name": "New Workflow", "nodes": [...], "connections": {...}}'

Update Workflow

curl -s -X PUT "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/{id}"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-d '{"name": "Updated", "nodes": [...], "connections": {...}}'

Activate/Deactivate

curl -s -X POST "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/{id}/activate"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"

curl -s -X POST "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/workflows/{id}/deactivate"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"

Get Executions

curl -s "http://localhost:5678/api/v1/executions?workflowId={id}&limit=10&includeData=true"
-H "X-N8N-API-KEY: $N8N_API_KEY"

Expression Syntax

n8n uses expressions for dynamic values:

Syntax Description

={{ $json.field }}

Access current item field

={{ $json.body.param }}

Access nested field

={{ $('Node Name').item.json.field }}

Access output from specific node

={{ $input.first().json }}

First input item

={{ $input.all() }}

All input items

={{ JSON.stringify($json) }}

Convert to JSON string

Common Node Types

Node Type Purpose

Webhook n8n-nodes-base.webhook

HTTP trigger

HTTP Request n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest

API calls

Respond to Webhook n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook

Return HTTP response

IF n8n-nodes-base.if

Conditional branching

Switch n8n-nodes-base.switch

Multi-way branching

Set n8n-nodes-base.set

Transform data

Code n8n-nodes-base.code

Custom JavaScript

Split In Batches n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches

Loop processing

Merge n8n-nodes-base.merge

Combine branches

MCP Integration

n8n can expose workflows as MCP tools via the built-in MCP server:

• Enable MCP in workflow settings: "availableInMCP": true

• Access MCP endpoint: http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http

• Use supergateway for Claude Code integration

Tips

• Webhook Response: Use responseMode: "responseNode" with Respond node for control

• Credentials: Store API keys in n8n credentials, reference by ID

• Error Handling: Add Error Trigger node for failure notifications

• Testing: Use /webhook-test/ path during development

• ADF Format: Jira/Confluence require Atlassian Document Format for rich text