Reference previous nodes

When working with data in n8n, you'll often need to reference information from the current node or from previous nodes in your workflow.

Common ways of referencing

The most frequently used methods for accessing data are:

• $json: Access JSON data from the current input item

• $('<node-name>').item.json: Access JSON data from a linked item in a previous node

Other referencing methods

These methods work in both expressions and the Code node:

Method	Description
$binary	Access binary data from the current input item
$input.item	The input item currently being processed
$('<node-name>').first()	Get the first item from a specified node
$('<node-name>').last()	Get the last item from a specified node
$('<node-name>').all()	Get all items from a specified node

Current node input

Methods for working with the input of the current node. Some methods and variables aren't available in the Code node.

Python support

You can use Python in the Code node. It isn't available in expressions.

JavaScript

Method	Description	Available in Code node?
$binary	Shorthand for $input.item.binary. Incoming binary data from a node	❌
$input.item	The input item of the current node that's being processed. Refer to Item linking for more information on paired items and item linking.	✅
$input.all()	All input items in current node.	✅
$input.first()	First input item in current node.	✅
$input.last()	Last input item in current node.	✅
$input.params	Object containing the query settings of the previous node. This includes data such as the operation it ran, result limits, and so on.	✅
$json	Shorthand for $input.item.json. Incoming JSON data from a node. Refer to Data structure for information on item structure.	✅ (when running once for each item)
$input.context.noItemsLeft	Boolean. Only available when working with the Loop Over Items node. Provides information about what's happening in the node. Use this to determine whether the node is still processing items.	✅

Python

Output of other nodes

Methods for working with the output of other nodes. Some methods and variables aren't available in the Code node.

JavaScript

Method	Description	Available in Code node?
$("<node-name>").all(branchIndex?, runIndex?)	Returns all items from a given node. If branchIndex isn't given it will default to the output that connects node-name with the node where you use the expression or code.	✅
$("<node-name>").first(branchIndex?, runIndex?)	The first item output by the given node. If branchIndex isn't given it will default to the output that connects node-name with the node where you use the expression or code.	✅
$("<node-name>").last(branchIndex?, runIndex?)	The last item output by the given node. If branchIndex isn't given it will default to the output that connects node-name with the node where you use the expression or code.	✅
$("<node-name>").item	The linked item. This is the item in the specified node used to produce the current item. Refer to Item linking for more information on item linking.	✅
$("<node-name>").params	Object containing the query settings of the given node. This includes data such as the operation it ran, result limits, and so on.	✅
$("<node-name>").context	Boolean. Only available when working with the Loop Over Items node. Provides information about what's happening in the node. Use this to determine whether the node is still processing items.	✅
$("<node-name>").itemMatching(currentNodeInputIndex)	Use instead of $("<node-name>").item in the Code node if you need to trace back from an input item.	✅