n8n
n8n is a powerful low-code automation platform that allows you to connect different tools, automate tasks, and build custom workflows — making it a perfect component for workware.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- The core concept of triggers and actions in n8n.
- Creating your first workflow
- Configuring and extending your workflow
Why Use n8n Cloud (Recommended)
We recommend starting with n8n Cloud because it's the quickest and simplest way to get up and running. You don't need to set up any infrastructure, and you can start building workflows in minutes. If you prefer to self-host n8n, you can find instructions in the n8n hosting documentation. However, for simplicity, all examples in this guide will assume you are using n8n Cloud.
Triggers and Actions in n8n
At the heart of every n8n workflow are two core concepts: triggers and actions.
Triggers: What Starts a Workflow
A trigger is an event that starts your workflow. Without a trigger, your workflow does nothing.
Common triggers include:
- Webhook Trigger: Fires when an external app sends a request (like a form submission or Slack message).
- Schedule Trigger: Fires on a schedule (like every morning at 9 AM).
- App Trigger: Fires when an event occurs in a third-party app (like receiving a new email in Gmail).
You can think of the trigger as the starting gun for your automation.
Actions: What Happens Next
Once your workflow is triggered, one or more actions carry out tasks. Actions can include:
- Send a Slack message.
- Add a row to a Google Sheet.
- Send an email.
- Call an API endpoint.
Actions execute in sequence, allowing you to build multi-step processes that connect different tools together.
What You'll Do Next
In the next step, you'll import a sample workflow to see how triggers and actions work in practice. This hands-on example will demonstrate how easy it is to build useful automations in n8n.
Import and Test Your First Workflow
Now, let's put these concepts into action. You'll import a sample workflow and test it to see how triggers and actions work together.
Step 1: Import the Sample Workflow
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