What is n8n?

n8n (pronounced "nodemation") is an open-source workflow automation platform that lets you connect applications, move data between them, and automate repetitive tasks -- all through a visual, node-based interface. It is currently at version 2.x and offers over 400 built-in integrations out of the box.

What does n8n do?

At its core, n8n lets you build workflows: sequences of steps that run automatically when a trigger fires. A workflow might:

• Watch for new rows in a Google Sheet, enrich the data with an API call, and create records in a CRM.
• Listen for incoming webhooks, transform the payload, and post a summary to Slack.
• Run on a schedule to pull reports from a database and email them to your team.

Each step in a workflow is represented by a node. Nodes are visual building blocks -- you drag them onto a canvas, configure them, and draw connections between them to define data flow.

The visual workflow builder

n8n's editor is a browser-based canvas where you build workflows by placing and connecting nodes. Every node shows its incoming and outgoing data in real time, so you can inspect exactly what is happening at each step before you activate the workflow.

Key features of the editor:

• Drag-and-drop canvas -- add nodes, rearrange them, and draw connections visually.
• Inline data preview -- click any node to see the data it produced during the last execution.
• Expression editor -- reference data from previous nodes using JavaScript expressions or n8n's built-in helpers.
• Error highlighting -- failed nodes are flagged immediately with detailed error output.

What makes n8n different

Several characteristics set n8n apart from other automation platforms:

Self-hostable

You can run n8n on your own infrastructure -- a VPS, a Kubernetes cluster, or a Raspberry Pi. Your data never has to leave your network. n8n also offers a fully managed cloud option if you prefer not to manage servers.

Fair-code license

n8n is distributed under the Sustainable Use License, which allows free use for most purposes. The source code is publicly available, and the community can inspect, modify, and contribute to it.

Extensive integrations

With over 400 built-in integrations, n8n covers a wide range of services -- from databases and cloud storage to CRMs, marketing tools, and developer utilities. When a pre-built node does not exist, the HTTP Request node and Code node let you connect to any service with an API.

AI-native capabilities

n8n includes first-class support for AI workflows. You can connect to large language models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others), build AI agents with tool-calling capabilities, implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, and chain AI steps together -- all within the same visual builder you use for any other automation.

Code when you need it

While most workflows can be built entirely with the visual editor, n8n also provides Code nodes where you can write JavaScript or Python. This makes it possible to handle complex data transformations or custom logic without leaving the platform.

Who uses n8n?

n8n is used by solo developers, startups, and enterprises alike. Common use cases include:

• DevOps and IT -- incident alerting, infrastructure monitoring, deployment pipelines.
• Marketing and sales -- lead routing, campaign automation, CRM synchronization.
• Data engineering -- ETL pipelines, data enrichment, scheduled reporting.
• AI and LLM applications -- chatbots, document processing, AI agents.

Next steps

Ready to try it? Head to Your First Workflow to build and run a working automation in minutes.

For the full official documentation, visit https://docs.n8n.io/.