n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that lets you connect different apps and services without writing code. If you're new to automation, this guide will help you create your first workflow in just 5 minutes.

What is n8n?

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that allows you to connect different services and automate tasks. Think of it as a visual way to build "if this, then that" logic between different apps and services.

Unlike some automation tools, n8n is:

• Self-hostable - Run it on your own server for complete control
• Fair-code licensed - Open source with some restrictions
• Extensible - 400+ integrations and growing
• Visual - Build workflows by connecting nodes, no coding required

Your First Workflow

Let's build a simple workflow that checks the weather every morning and sends you a notification. This is a great starting point because it demonstrates the core concepts of n8n.

Step 1: Create a New Workflow

1. Open your n8n instance (either cloud or self-hosted)
2. Click the "+" button in the top right
3. Select "New Workflow"

You'll see an empty canvas with a "+" button. This is where you'll build your workflow.

Step 2: Add a Schedule Trigger

Every workflow needs a trigger - something that starts it. For this example, we'll use a schedule trigger.

1. Click the "+" button
2. Search for "Schedule Trigger"
3. Click to add it

Configure the schedule:

• Set it to run "Every day" at "9:00 AM"
• Choose your timezone
• Click "Save"

Step 3: Add a Weather API Node

Now we'll fetch the weather data.

1. Click the "+" button after the Schedule Trigger
2. Search for "HTTP Request"
3. Add it and connect it to the Schedule Trigger

Configure the HTTP Request:

• Method: GET
• URL: https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q=London&appid=YOUR_API_KEY
• (You'll need a free API key from openweathermap.org)

Step 4: Add a Notification Node

Finally, let's send the weather to yourself.

1. Click the "+" button after the HTTP Request
2. Search for "Email" or "Slack" (depending on what you use)
3. Add it and connect it to the HTTP Request

Configure the notification:

• For Email: Add your email address
• Subject: "Today's Weather"
• Body: Use the data from the weather API response

Step 5: Test and Activate

1. Click "Test workflow" to see if it works
2. Check the execution results
3. If everything looks good, click "Active" to turn it on

Understanding the Basics

This simple workflow demonstrates three key concepts:

1. Triggers - What starts your workflow (Schedule Trigger)
2. Actions - What your workflow does (HTTP Request, Email)
3. Data Flow - How data moves between nodes (the connections)

Next Steps

Now that you've created your first workflow, try:

• Adding more nodes to process the data
• Using different triggers (webhooks, manual, etc.)
• Exploring the 400+ available integrations
• Building more complex workflows

Common Pitfalls

• API Keys: Always store credentials securely in n8n's credential system
• Error Handling: Add error handling nodes for production workflows
• Testing: Always test workflows before activating them
• Rate Limits: Be aware of API rate limits when building workflows

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've created your first n8n workflow. This is just the beginning. As you build more workflows, you'll discover how powerful automation can be for saving time and eliminating repetitive tasks.

The n8n community is incredibly helpful, and there are thousands of workflow templates available to learn from. Start simple, experiment, and gradually build more complex automations.