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name: n8n description: n8n workflow automation patterns and API integration. This skill should be used when creating n8n workflows, using webhooks, managing workflows via REST API, or integrating n8n with MCP servers. Covers workflow JSON structure, node patterns, and automation best practices. author: Joseph OBrien status: unpublished updated: '2025-12-23' version: 1.0.1 tag: skill type: skill

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:

1. Enable MCP in workflow settings: "availableInMCP": true
2. Access MCP endpoint: http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http
3. Use supergateway for Claude Code integration

Tips

1. Webhook Response: Use responseMode: "responseNode" with Respond node for control
2. Credentials: Store API keys in n8n credentials, reference by ID
3. Error Handling: Add Error Trigger node for failure notifications
4. Testing: Use /webhook-test/ path during development
5. ADF Format: Jira/Confluence require Atlassian Document Format for rich text