Welcome to the n8n automation course. This lesson covers what n8n is, how to set it up, and the core concepts you need before building your first workflow.
1. What is n8n?
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is an open-source, node-based workflow automation platform. It lets you connect apps, services, and APIs through a visual drag-and-drop editor — no code required for simple flows, but full JavaScript power when you need it.
400+ integrations — Google Sheets, Slack, GitHub, Airtable, Postgres, OpenAI, and more
Self-hosted or cloud — run on your own server for full data control, or use n8n.io cloud
Fair-code license — free to self-host, paid for commercial cloud use
Code nodes — drop into JavaScript when visual nodes aren't enough
AI-native — built-in LangChain integration for AI agent workflows
2. Use Cases
Form → Sheet → Email: Typeform submission saves to Google Sheets and sends a welcome email
GitHub → Slack: New PR or issue triggers a Slack notification to your team
API data sync: Pull data from a REST API every hour and push to your database
AI-powered workflows: Classify incoming emails with OpenAI, route them to the right folder
CRM automation: New HubSpot contact triggers an onboarding sequence
Report generation: Weekly Postgres query → format → send PDF via email
n8n excels when you want code-level flexibility without building a full microservice. It sits between Zapier (simpler) and custom code (more work).
3. Setup Options
Option A — n8n Cloud (easiest)
Visit n8n.io, sign up, get a hosted instance instantly. Free trial available.
Option B — Local via npm
npm install n8n -g
n8n
# Opens at http://localhost:5678
After adding a node, click it to open its parameters panel on the right. All configuration happens there. Use the expression editor (lightning bolt icon) to reference dynamic data.
5. Core Concepts
Concept
Description
Example
Workflow
A chain of connected nodes automating a task
"New lead → CRM → Email"
Trigger
The starting node — what kicks off the workflow
Webhook, Schedule, App Event
Node
A single step: action, transformation, or decision
HTTP Request, IF, Set, Gmail
Item
A single data object flowing through the workflow
{ json: { name: "Alice" } }
Credential
Stored, encrypted authentication for a service
Google OAuth, Slack token
Execution
One complete run of a workflow
Run at 09:00, status: success
6. First Workflow: Manual → Set → IF → HTTP
Manual Trigger — Add via "+" → search "Manual Trigger". Runs by clicking a button.
Set Node — Adds/transforms fields. Set name = "Alice" and score = 85.
IF Node — Condition: score >= 70. True branch passes, False takes a different path.
HTTP Request Node — On the True branch, GET https://httpbin.org/get.
Manual Trigger
└─► Set { name: "Alice", score: 85 }
└─► IF score >= 70
├─ TRUE ─► HTTP GET https://httpbin.org/get
└─ FALSE ─► (end or another node)
Click "Execute Workflow" (play button) to run. Click any node after execution to inspect what data it received and output.
7. Canvas Tips
Zoom: Scroll wheel or pinch on trackpad; Ctrl+Shift+F to fit all
Pan: Hold Space + drag, or middle-click drag
Minimap: Bottom-right corner — overview of large workflows
Undo: Ctrl+Z (Windows) / Cmd+Z (Mac)
Duplicate node: Right-click → Duplicate, or Ctrl+D
Select multiple: Hold Shift and click, or drag a selection box
Sticky notes: Right-click canvas → "Add Sticky Note" for documentation
Node renaming: Double-click the node title to rename it meaningfully