N8N for beginners: looping over items

N8N for Beginners: Looping Over Items Description This workflow is designed for n8n beginners to understand how n8n handles looping (iteration) over multiple items. It highlights two key behaviors: - Built-In Looping: By default, most n8n nodes iterate over each item in an input array. - Explicit Looping: The Loop Over Items node allows controlled iteration, enabling custom batch processing and multi-step workflows. This workflow demonstrates the difference between processing an unsplit array of strings (single item) vs. a split array (multiple items). --- Setup 1. Input Data To begin, paste the following JSON into the Manual Trigger node: 📌 Steps to Paste Data: - Double-click the "Manual Trigger" node. - Click "Edit Output" (top-right corner). - Paste the JSON and Save. - The node turns purple, indicating that test data is pinned. 1. Click "Test Workflow" button at the bottom of the canvas --- Explanation of the n8n Nodes in the Workflow | Node Name | Purpose | Documentation Link | |-----------|---------|--------------------| | Manual Trigger | Starts the workflow manually and sends test data | Docs | | Split Out | Converts an array of strings into separate JSON objects | Docs | | Loop Over Items (Loop Over Items 1) | Demonstrates how an unsplit array is treated as one item | Docs | | Loop Over Items (Loop Over Items 2) | Iterates over each item separately | Docs | | Wait | Introduces a delay per iteration (set to 1 second) | Docs | | Code | Adds a constant parameter (param1) to each item | Docs | | NoOp (Result Nodes) | Displays output for inspection | Docs | --- Execution Details 1. How the Workflow Runs - Manual Trigger starts execution with the pasted JSON data. - The workflow follows two paths: 1. Unsplit Array Path → Loop Over Items 1 - Processes the entire array as a single item. - Result1 & Result5: Show that the array was not split. 2. Split Array Path → Split Out → Loop Over Items 2 - Splits the array into separate objects. - Result2, Result3, Result4: Show that each item is processed individually. - A Wait node (1 sec delay) demonstrates controlled execution. - Code nodes modify the JSON, adding a parameter (param1). 2. What You Will See | Node | Expected Output | |------|---------------| | Result1 & Result5 | The entire array is processed as one item. | | Result2, Result3, Result4 | The array is split and processed as individual items. | | Wait Node | Adds a 1-second delay per item in Loop Over Items 2. | --- Use Cases This workflow is useful for: ✅ API Data Processing: Loop through API responses containing arrays. ✅ Web Scraping: Process multiple URLs individually. ✅ Task Automation: Execute a sequence of actions per item. ✅ Workflow Optimization: Control execution order, delays, and dependencies. --- Notes - Sticky notes are included in the workflow for easy reference. - The Wait node is optional—remove it for faster execution. - This template is structured for beginners but serves as a building block for more advanced automations. ---