> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/build/work-with-data/reference-data/reference-previous-nodes.md).

# 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 <a href="#common-ways-of-referencing" id="common-ways-of-referencing"></a>

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](/build/work-with-data/reference-data/link-data-items.md) in a previous node

## Other referencing methods <a href="#other-referencing-methods" id="other-referencing-methods"></a>

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 <a href="#current-node-input" id="current-node-input"></a>

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

{% hint style="info" %}
**Python support**

You can use Python in the Code node. It isn't available in expressions.
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}

| Method                       | Description                                                                                                                                                                                        |       Available in Code node?       |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------: |
| `$binary`                    | Shorthand for `$input.item.binary`. Incoming binary data from a node                                                                                                                               |                  ❌                  |
| `$input.item`                | The input item of the current node that's being processed. Refer to [Item linking](/build/work-with-data/reference-data/link-data-items.md) for more information on paired items and item linking. |                  ✅                  |
| `$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 `$input.item.json`. Incoming JSON data from a node. Refer to [Data structure](/build/work-with-data/understand-n8ns-data-structure.md) for information on item structure.            | ✅ (when running once for each item) |
| `$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.     |                  ✅                  |
| {% endtab %}                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                     |

{% tab title="Python" %}

| Method                       | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `_input.item`                | The input item of the current node that's being processed. Refer to [Item linking](/build/work-with-data/reference-data/link-data-items.md) 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](/build/work-with-data/understand-n8ns-data-structure.md) for information on item structure. Available when you set **Mode** to **Run 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.                                                         |
| {% endtab %}                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| {% endtabs %}                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

## Output of other nodes <a href="#output-of-other-nodes" id="output-of-other-nodes"></a>

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

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="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](/build/work-with-data/reference-data/link-data-items.md) 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.                                                                                                            |            ✅            |
| {% endtab %}                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                         |
| {% endtabs %}                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                         |


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