What Are n8n Nodes, Triggers, and Workflows: A Beginner’s Guide

n8n is a no-code / low-code workflow automation tool that connects apps, APIs, and services together, without writing hundreds of lines of code.

Think of it as your automation command center:
You drag, drop, and connect nodes (like Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, or custom APIs) to create workflows that run automatically when something happens (a trigger).

Why n8n Is Best Option for Automation

1. Open Source: Unlike Zapier or Make, n8n is self-hostable and fully customizable.

2. Extensible: You can connect to any API or create your own custom nodes.

3. Developer-Friendly: Supports code nodes (JavaScript/TypeScript) for logic, transformation, and custom scripts.

4. Cost-Effective: Self-host it for free, or use n8n Cloud with scalable pricing.

Understanding n8n Nodes

Nodes are the building blocks of any n8n workflow.
Each node represents an action, service, or function—like “Send Email,” “HTTP Request,” or “Write to Google Sheets.”

Types of Nodes

1. Application Nodes: Interact with specific apps or services (e.g., Gmail, Notion, Slack, Google Sheets).

2. Example: A Gmail Node sends an email to a recipient.

3. Core Nodes: Handle logic, data transformation, or control flow.

4. Example: An IF Node checks conditions like if amount > 1000.

5. Function Nodes: Allow you to write JavaScript for custom logic.

Real-World Example

Let’s say you want to automatically log new form submissions into Google Sheets:

• HTTP Request Node: Receives data from a web form.
• Google Sheets Node: Adds the form data to a sheet.

That’s two nodes—and zero manual work.

What Are n8n Triggers?

A trigger is a special kind of node that starts your workflow when a certain event happens.

Common Triggers

- Cron Node: Runs workflows on a schedule (e.g., every day at 9 AM).
- Webhook Node: Starts the workflow when it receives data from another app.
- App Triggers: Fire when something happens in a connected service—like a new email in Gmail or a new row in Airtable.

Example
Want to send a daily report email at 6 AM?
Use the Cron Trigger Node → connect it to Google Sheets Node → then a G*mail Node* to email the report.

What Are n8n Workflows?

A workflow is the full automation pipeline—a series of connected nodes that perform tasks in sequence. It’s where nodes and triggers come together to make magic happen.

You can visualize it like this:

[Trigger] → [Action Node 1] → [Action Node 2] → [Output/Notification]

Example Workflow: New Form → Email + Google Sheet

1. Trigger: Webhook receives new form data.
2. Node 1: Google Sheets node adds the data to a sheet.
3. Node 2: Gmail node sends a confirmation email to the user.

Once activated, this workflow runs automatically—24/7.

Step-by-Step: Create Your First n8n Workflow

Let’s build a simple email alert workflow—when a new contact is added to a form, n8n sends you an email.

Step 1: Add a Trigger
Open your n8n editor.
Click + Add Node → Webhook.
Set it to POST and copy the URL provided.

Step 2: Add an Action Node
Add a Gmail Node (or Email Send Node).
Configure:

• To: your email
• Subject: New Contact Added
• Body: {{ $json["name"] }} just submitted a new contact form.

Step 3: Connect and Test
Connect Webhook → Gmail.
Save and activate the workflow.
Send a test form submission.
✅ You’ll instantly receive an email!

Quick Example: Sending Data to Google Sheets

Let’s say you want to log every new signup into a Google Sheet.

{
  "name": "Google Sheets Example",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Webhook Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "parameters": { "path": "new-signup", "method": "POST" }
    },
    {
      "name": "Google Sheets",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
      "parameters": {
        "sheetId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
        "range": "Sheet1!A1",
        "data": ["{{$json.name}}", "{{$json.email}}"]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Now every time your app sends data to the webhook, n8n adds it to Google Sheets automatically.

Wrapping Up

n8n empowers anyone, from developers to business users to automate without limits.

With just a few nodes, you can eliminate hours of manual work, connect your favorite tools, and scale smarter.

If you want to go deeper or build advanced automations for your company, it’s worth partnering with experienced professionals who understand API architecture and workflow design.

👉 Need help building production-grade automations?
You can hire n8n experts to create secure, scalable, and custom workflows tailored for your business.