> 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-your-first-workflow.md). # Build your first workflow Create your first workflow in n8n and learn some key concepts. In this quick start, you’ll build a workflow that fetches the weather for Berlin every morning and turns it into a short report anyone can read at a glance. The workflow saves each report to a data table, so you build up a weather log over time. ![8 AM schedule trigger connected to Get Berlin Weather, Format Weather Message, and Save Weather Report](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3e3553a50a6bcd4a9cfd1b315b9cf039e5d96625%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow.png?alt=media) When it runs, your workflow produces a report like this: ``` The temperature in berlin is 7.4°C. It's currently overcast. ``` The build takes about 15 minutes. Apart from n8n, you don’t need any accounts, API keys, or coding experience. The weather data comes from Mockingbird, a sample-data service n8n provides for tutorials, so you’ll get similar results to this guide. ## Before you start You need an n8n instance. Either: * **n8n Cloud**: [sign up for a free trial](https://go.n8n.io/ekXKXJ), or * **Self-hosted**: follow the [host n8n](/deploy/host-n8n.md) guide ## 1. Create the workflow Log in to your n8n instance, then: 1. Select **Personal** in the left menu. This is where your workflows live. ![Personal in the left menu](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-85c3edcf10180966c40f0f826da0a4ab7679beec%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-create-workflow-01.png?alt=media) 2. Select **Create workflow** at the top right. This opens the canvas, where you’ll build your workflow and spend most of this tutorial. ![Create workflow button](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-55758edc996be986a974008c1ead88254fb638ab%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-create-workflow-02.png?alt=media) 3. Select the workflow’s name and change it to `Weather Log`. Select anywhere on the canvas to save the name. ## 2. Run it at 8 AM every day You’ll use: **Schedule Trigger** When building a workflow, the first question to answer is: “How should this workflow start?” On a schedule, for example 8 AM every day? When a user submits a form? When an application like Telegram sends a message? For this first build, you’ll set it to run at 8 AM every day. While you build, you’ll run the workflow yourself to test it. Once you publish it at the end, the schedule runs it for you: 1. Select **Add first step**, then select **On a schedule**. ![On a schedule option](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-db32a1a9d08b479307fee1ae22bee73bfea707ab%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-schedule-01.png?alt=media) 2. In the Node details view, select `8am` from the **Trigger at Hour** field. ![Trigger at Hour set to 8 AM](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e6289e358a060588fe74a9f891890d664749254e%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-schedule-02.png?alt=media) 3. Select **Schedule Trigger** at the top left and rename it to `Every day at 8am`. ![Renamed Schedule Trigger](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a726fca721b5f51a5d028a380638bb3b5139ced0%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-schedule-03.png?alt=media) 4. Select the **x** at the top right to close the Node details view and return to the canvas. ## 3. Get the weather for Berlin You’ll use: **HTTP Request** You’ve got your trigger, so it’s time to fetch the weather. The **HTTP Request** node sends a request to a web address, called an endpoint, and returns the data that address provides. Services that share data this way are APIs. 1. Select **+** after the trigger, type `http` in the **Search nodes** box, and select **HTTP Request**. ![HTTP Request in the search results](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-dbff1108a1e96b30be91c2064f47f3fce4547972%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-get-weather-01.png?alt=media) 2. In the Node details view, paste `https://mockingbird.n8n.io/v1/weather/berlin` into the **URL** field. ![Mockingbird URL in the URL field](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-dfd8b6c447ae4234cfd7055e754fc6071133807f%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-get-weather-02.png?alt=media)

Mockingbird is a sample API with weather for about 40 European cities. Other cities return an error.

3. Select the node’s name at the top left and rename it to `Get Berlin Weather`, then select **Execute step**. You should see the weather for Berlin in the output, including the `city`, `temp_c`, and `condition` fields you’ll use in the next step. ![Berlin weather output](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3a20c5d051a86ed2683538f0e49e55844559ced9%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-get-weather-03.png?alt=media) ## 4. Turn the weather into a report You’ll use: **Edit Fields (Set)** Next, you’ll turn the weather data into a short report that anyone can read at a glance. 1. Select **+** after **Get Berlin Weather**, select **Data transformation**, then select **Edit Fields (Set)**. ![Edit Fields (Set) under Data transformation](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c53c0359ccfdc43e61d3bb8cf84be9692091503c%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-01.png?alt=media) 2. Select **Add Field** in the middle of the Node details view. For **Name**, enter `report`. ![Add Field button](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8fc806bef9f6c5e0b136831b4a5e36fc928cb1f5%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-02.png?alt=media) ![Field named report](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a1523afe781822ad3a89e085c19db914c2a1a3e0%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-03.png?alt=media) 3. For **Value**, enter `The temperature in`, then drag `city` from the input panel on the left. When you drop a field in, n8n switches **Value** to **Expression** mode, and you see: ``` The temperature in {{ $json.city }} ``` ![city dragged into the Value field](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9a1dd63851210c02e888c7bfd173ad4620537197%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-04.png?alt=media)

What's an expression?

{{ $json.city }} is a placeholder, called an expression. When the workflow runs, n8n swaps it for the real value. The input panel shows the output from Get Berlin Weather, which becomes the input to this node. You drag fields in rather than typing them, and the preview under the field shows you the finished sentence. To learn more, see Expressions.

4. Drag `temp_c` in and update the wording to: ``` The temperature in {{ $json.city }} is {{ $json.temp_c }}°C. ``` ![Value with city and temperature](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a946b896d2f0002dc643c4bab00d5e562f131f3b%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-05.png?alt=media) Add `It's currently` to the end, then drag `condition` in: ``` The temperature in {{ $json.city }} is {{ $json.temp_c }}°C. It's currently {{ $json.condition }}. ``` ![Value with city, temperature, and condition](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a91f40acf4e03eb6a63b3504a6e6ec3e447e5132%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-06.png?alt=media) 5. Rename the node to `Format Weather Message` and select **Execute step**. You should see output like: ``` The temperature in berlin is 7.4°C. It's currently overcast. ``` ![Finished weather report output](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-37aca0f9c68733a81d296ec954f160b6daa54d3e%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-report-07.png?alt=media) ## 5. Save the data You’ll use: **Data table** You’ve fetched the data and formatted it, so now it’s time to store it. For this, you’ll use n8n’s [data tables](/build/work-with-data/data-tables.md). 1. Select **Personal** in the left menu, then select **Data tables**. ![Data tables tab](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e660228d53104e41ad8b920aa8e200993da2e280%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-save-data-01.png?alt=media) 2. Select **Create data table**, name it `weather_data`, and select **Create**. ![New, empty data table](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3f6616340ff863600c830f548a8be3dcadd99ce5%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-save-data-02.png?alt=media) 3. Select **Add Column**, enter `report` for **Name**, then select **Add Column** again. This gives you a column to store the weather report in. ![report column in the new data table](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-58619b8d0cfd7559ab0529189517a0292e445f97%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-save-data-03.png?alt=media) 4. Open your **Weather Log** workflow (**Personal** > **Weather Log**). Add a **Data table** node after **Format Weather Message** and select **Insert row** as the action. ![Insert row action](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-35cc54ebabca312e4319d1047aa887b942ff0b4e%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-save-data-04.png?alt=media) 5. Rename the node to `Save Weather Report`. 6. Select `weather_data` from the **Data table** list and change **Mapping Column Mode** to **Map Automatically**. The `report` field from **Format Weather Message** has the same name as the column in the data table, so n8n maps them for you. ![Save Weather Report node with the data table selected and Map Automatically set](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-df49c194eda35f0d1e212a603e60d3a392b909c3%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-save-data-05.png?alt=media) ## 6. Test and publish the workflow Your workflow is complete. Test it, then publish it so it runs every day at 8 AM. 1. Select **Execute workflow** to test it, then open the `weather_data` table to check that n8n inserted a row. ![Successful workflow run](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-53cf4f42dad3bc60799e8098a0ce3fe787988663%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-test-and-publish-01.png?alt=media) ![New row in the data table](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e57ea288225db8034eb9604a54593352b443ca67%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-test-and-publish-02.png?alt=media) 2. Select **Publish** in the Canvas header and follow the prompts to publish the workflow. ![Publish button](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8ee33c9c6572b62398b6406836390de6a4fafb18%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-test-and-publish-03.png?alt=media) ## What you learned Congratulations, your workflow now runs at 8 AM every day. Along the way, you’ve learned how to: * **Start a workflow with a trigger.** Yours runs on a schedule. [Schedule Trigger](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger.md) * **Add and connect nodes.** Each node does one job and passes its result to the next. [Work with nodes](/build/understand-workflows/workflow-components/work-with-nodes.md) * **Fetch data from an API.** You used the HTTP Request node to get weather data from a web address. [HTTP Request](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.httprequest.md) * **Work with data between nodes.** The output of one node becomes the input of the next. [Understand n8n's data structure](/build/work-with-data/understand-n8ns-data-structure.md) * **Use expressions.** Dragging fields in builds an expression for you, so you can use live data without writing code. [Expressions for data transformation](/build/work-with-data/transform-data/expressions-for-data-transformation.md) * **Store data.** Each run saves a new row to your data table, so you keep every report after the workflow finishes. [Data tables](/build/work-with-data/data-tables.md) ## Optional: Build with n8n Assistant {% hint style="info" %} **Preview status** n8n Assistant is in Preview and may change in future releases. See [Use the n8n Assistant](/build/ways-of-building-workflows/n8n-assistant.md) page for availability. {% endhint %} n8n Assistant is another way to build workflows, using prompts. Now that you’ve built **Weather Log** yourself, you’ll understand what n8n Assistant creates. 1. Open your **Weather Log** workflow, select **Published** at the top right, and select **Unpublish**. Otherwise your workflow and the one n8n Assistant creates both run at 8 AM. ![Unpublish option](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2af858a635ef8e2c3b1d0cc15a7bd35ec5220ef1%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-01.png?alt=media) 2. Select **n8n Assistant** in the left menu. ![n8n Assistant in the left menu](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1c04671444ce81d21bafe3e9910a2807ce324251%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-02.png?alt=media) 3. Enter this prompt: ``` Every day at 8am: - Get the weather for Berlin from https://mockingbird.n8n.io/v1/weather/berlin - Add a report field that contains the city, temperature, and conditions - Save the report to a data table called weather_data ``` ![Prompt entered in n8n Assistant](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1504f55cc2ac2cdf74dd63036d4956b7c61afa45%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-03.png?alt=media)

n8n Assistant may detect your existing Weather Log workflow. Ask it to “build a fresh, separate copy”.

4. Approve each step when n8n Assistant asks. When it finishes, you should see a workflow like this: ![Workflow built by n8n Assistant](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4f7071d43ae23de9b7ad18cfc9a92fa7305f3882%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-04.png?alt=media) 5. Select **Execute workflow**, then check the data table for a new row: ![Successful run of the copied workflow](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b7e8e57c17f481caf58e38f1e8875a1b5c2f1c70%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-05.png?alt=media) ![Second row in the data table](https://2446198290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCxSeOtVxqqhfxMSac0AV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-67ddea35a114e2b3759c57a6cd848745affef6a2%2Fbuild-your-first-workflow-assistant-06.png?alt=media) ## Next steps * Take [courses at n8n Academy](https://go.n8n.io/gfzWgF). * Explore more examples in [workflow templates](https://n8n.io/workflows/). ## Related resources * [n8n Docs](/welcome.md) * [Choose how to use n8n](/choose-how-to-use-n8n.md) * [Learning paths](/learning-paths.md) * [Key concept glossary](/key-concept-glossary.md)