n8n Fundamentals

Beginner · 14 lessons

Zero to your first live workflow. Install n8n, learn the core nodes, and understand credentials, expressions and error handling.

Start lesson 1
  1. 1What is n8n?The mental model: nodes, triggers, workflows and executions.20 min
  2. 2Install n8n locallyCompare npx, Docker and n8n Desktop to pick the right dev setup.30 min
  3. 3Your first workflowManual trigger → HTTP Request → Slack, wired end-to-end.25 min
  4. 4Core nodes tourSet, IF, Merge, Filter and Schedule — the nodes you'll use in nearly every flow.40 min
  5. 5Credentials & security basicsOAuth2 vs. API keys, and how n8n encrypts stored secrets.20 min
  6. 6Expressions 101Read and write {{$json.field}}, reference other nodes, use the expression editor.35 min
  7. 7Cron & Schedule triggersTime-based automations: intervals, cron expressions, timezones.20 min
  8. 8Handling errors gracefullyContinue-on-fail, the error output branch, and retry settings.25 min
  9. 9Publishing, activation & tagsMove from 'testing' to a live, always-on workflow, and organize with tags.15 min
  10. 10Debugging executions like a proRead the execution list, inspect item data at each step, and replay failed runs.20 min
  11. 11Working with items & data structuren8n's item-list model: json, binary, and pairedItem explained.25 min
  12. 12Notifications & digest patternsBuild a daily-digest workflow that batches events instead of spamming a channel.30 min
  13. 13Forms & human inputUse the n8n Form trigger to collect structured input without a separate front-end.25 min
  14. 14Beginner capstone projectShip a real internal tool end-to-end: form → validation → Google Sheets → Slack alert.60 min
Next track: Real-World Workflows