Creating Your First Workflow in n8n
To create your first n8n workflow, open n8n, create a new workflow, add a Webhook trigger node, connect an action node such as Send Email, map the data fields, and activate the workflow. You can test each step before going live using n8n's built-in test mode.
This guide walks you through building a basic n8n workflow: receive a webhook, extract data, and send an email notification. No prior automation experience needed.
What You Will Build
You will create a workflow with three nodes: a Webhook trigger (receives the incoming data), a Set node (cleans up the fields), and a Gmail node (sends the notification). Before you start, you need access to n8n (either n8n Cloud or a self-hosted instance) and a Gmail account for sending the test email. If you are new to n8n, read What is n8n first.
Step 1: Create a New Workflow
Log in to n8n and click “New workflow” on the dashboard. Give it a descriptive name such as “Form submission handler”. The editor opens with an empty canvas. Every workflow starts with a trigger node, which is the first thing you add.
Step 2: Add a Webhook Trigger Node
Click the ”+” button on the canvas and search for “Webhook”. Add the Webhook node. It generates two URLs: a test URL and a production URL. During development, use the test URL. Copy it; you will use it shortly to send test data. Leave the HTTP method set to POST. For a deeper look at webhook configuration options, see How to Set Up a Webhook in n8n.
Step 3: Send Test Data to Your Webhook
To see real data flowing through the workflow, trigger the webhook with sample data. Use Postman, Insomnia, or a curl command to send a POST request to the test URL with a JSON body, for example: {"name": "Anna Bakker", "email": "anna@example.com"}. In n8n, click “Listen for test event” on the Webhook node. After sending the request, n8n shows the received data in the node’s output panel.
Step 4: Add a Set Node to Prepare the Data
Add a Set node after the Webhook node. Use it to extract the fields you need and give them clear names. Map the incoming name and email fields to output fields with the same names. This step is optional for simple workflows, but it makes downstream nodes easier to configure and the workflow easier to read when you return to it later.
Step 5: Add a Gmail Action Node
Add a Gmail node after the Set node. Connect it with your Google credentials. In the “To” field, reference the email from your data using an expression: switch the field to expression mode and type {{ $json.email }}. Write a subject and body, using the name field in the message body. Configure the “From” address. Test the node by clicking “Execute step” and check your inbox.
Step 6: Test the Full Workflow and Activate It
Click “Execute workflow” to run the entire workflow end to end with your test data. Check each node’s output to confirm the data flows correctly. Once everything works, toggle the workflow to “Active” so it runs automatically on incoming webhooks. If you want to add an AI step, for example to classify or respond to the incoming data, read how to connect an AI model to your n8n workflow.
Our tip: Use descriptive node names from the start. “Send email” is less useful than “Send new registration email”. Clear names make it faster to find and fix issues when the workflow grows more complex.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install anything to start with n8n?
The quickest way to start is n8n Cloud, which has a free trial and requires no installation. You create an account, open the editor, and start building immediately. If you prefer self-hosting, you can run n8n with Docker: install Docker, pull the n8n image, and run it locally. The interface is the same in both cases. For testing a first workflow, n8n Cloud is faster to get started.
What is the difference between a test run and an active workflow in n8n?
In test mode, you manually trigger the workflow from inside the editor and can see all the data at each step in real time. It is the right mode for building and debugging. An active workflow runs automatically when the trigger fires, such as when a webhook receives data or a schedule triggers. You activate a workflow by toggling the active switch in the top right of the editor. Active workflows run even when the editor is closed.
How do I pass data from one node to the next in n8n?
n8n passes data between nodes as JSON objects. When you configure an action node, you can reference data from any previous node using expression mode: click the input field, switch to expression, and browse the available data from upstream nodes. For example, if your Webhook node received a field called 'email', you reference it as {{ $json.email }} in downstream nodes. You can also transform data using the Set node before passing it on.