Wire everything together,n8n.
A fair-code, node-based workflow automation tool — connect your CRM, email, databases, and IoT devices on a visual canvas instead of writing glue code, and drop into JavaScript or Python when a step needs custom logic. This guide covers the core concepts, self-hosting with Docker, your first workflow, and AI agent nodes.
Your data, your infrastructure
Because n8n is self-hostable, your data and credentials stay on your own infrastructure — unlike fully managed SaaS automation platforms.
- Nodes — triggers, API calls, transforms, conditions.
- Items — data flows node to node as JSON.
- Agents — AI/LangChain nodes with tools and vector stores.
On this page
What this guide covers
Concepts
Nodes, triggers, workflows, items, credentials, and executions — the vocabulary of the canvas.
Self-Host
A Docker Compose deployment with persisted data, plus the Postgres and queue-mode path for production.
First Workflow
Add a trigger, wire action nodes, map data with expressions, then test and activate.
Agents
The AI Agent node — call language models, use tools, and query vector stores across your services.
Start here
Overview
n8n is a fair-code, node-based workflow automation tool. Instead of writing glue code to connect your CRM, email, databases, and IoT devices, you wire nodes together on a visual canvas — and drop into JavaScript or Python whenever a step needs custom logic.
Because it is self-hostable, your data and credentials stay on your own infrastructure, unlike fully managed SaaS automation platforms.
This guide covers core concepts, self-hosting, your first workflow, and AI agents.
The big picture
Information
In a world where seamless digital integration is no longer a luxury but a necessity, businesses and developers alike grapple with myriad tools to streamline processes and enhance productivity. Enter n8n — an open-source, node-based tool that promises to revolutionize the way we think about workflow automation. Imagine a world where your CRM, email platform, social media, and even IoT devices can effortlessly talk to each other, where manual data transfer becomes a relic of the past, and where workflows become as customizable as a Lego set. This isn’t a vision from a distant future; this is the present brought to life by n8n.
Canvas vocabulary
Concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Node | A single step — a trigger, API call, transform, or condition |
| Trigger | The node that starts a workflow (schedule, webhook, app event) |
| Workflow | The connected graph of nodes that runs start to finish |
| Item | A JSON object of data passed between nodes |
| Credential | Stored, reusable auth for a connected service |
| Execution | One run of a workflow, with a full log of node inputs/outputs |
Data flows node to node as JSON items — each node operates on the items it receives from the previous one.
Docker deployment
Self-Host
The simplest deployment is Docker:
services: n8n: image: n8nio/n8n container_name: n8n ports: - "5678:5678" environment: - N8N_HOST=n8n.kbve.com - N8N_PORT=5678 - N8N_PROTOCOL=https - WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.kbve.com/ - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=America/New_York volumes: - ./n8n-data:/home/node/.n8n restart: unless-stoppedTrigger to active
First Workflow
-
Add a trigger Every workflow starts with a trigger node — a Schedule (cron), a Webhook, or an app event like “new row in a database.”
-
Add action nodes Search the node panel for the service you want (HTTP Request, Slack, Postgres, Gmail) and connect it to the trigger.
-
Map the data Use expressions like
{{ $json.email }}to pull fields from the previous node’s items into the next node’s parameters. -
Test and activate Click Execute Workflow to test with live data, inspect each node’s output, then toggle Active to run it automatically on the trigger.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is n8n?
n8n is a fair-code, node-based workflow automation tool that connects apps, APIs, databases, and services into automated workflows. You build flows visually by wiring nodes together on a canvas, with the option to drop into JavaScript or Python for custom logic. It can be self-hosted or used as a managed cloud service.
Is n8n free and open source?
n8n is fair-code, released under the Sustainable Use License. You can self-host it for free, including commercial internal use. It is source-available rather than strictly OSI open source, and n8n also offers a paid cloud and enterprise tier.
How do I self-host n8n?
The simplest route is Docker. Run the n8nio/n8n image with a persisted volume for the SQLite or Postgres database, set N8N_HOST and a webhook URL, and expose port 5678 behind a reverse proxy with TLS. For production, use Postgres and, at scale, queue mode with a Redis-backed worker pool.
What is the difference between a node and a workflow in n8n?
A node is a single step — a trigger, an API call, a transformation, or a condition. A workflow is the connected graph of nodes that runs start to finish. Data flows between nodes as JSON items, and each node operates on the items it receives from the previous one.
Can n8n run AI agents?
Yes. n8n ships AI/LangChain nodes including an AI Agent node that can call language models, use tools, and query vector stores. You can wire an agent to your workflow data and other nodes, letting it take actions across your connected services.