N8n automation has been eye-opening to me and one of the most fundamental concepts I’ve had to grasp is understanding data types. If you’re new to workflow automation, knowing your data types will save you hours of troubleshooting and make your automations much more powerful.

Why Data Types Matter in N8n

In N8n, data flows from one node to another, transforming and moving between different applications. Understanding data types is crucial because:

• Different nodes expect specific data types as input
• API calls require properly formatted data
• Incorrect data types cause workflow errors
• Data transformations depend on knowing what you’re working with

Think of data types as the “language” your automation speaks. Just like you wouldn’t use numbers when someone asks for your name, your workflow needs the right type of data for each operation.

The Main Data Types in N8n

1. String (Text)

Strings are sequences of characters wrapped in quotes. They’re the most common data type you’ll encounter.

Examples:

• "Hello, World!"
• "nancy@email.com"
• "2025-10-17" (yes, even dates can be strings!)

Common use cases:

• Names, email addresses, descriptions
• Status labels like “Completed” or “In Progress”
• Any text content from forms or databases

N8n tip: In expressions, you can concatenate strings using the plus operator: {{$json.firstName + " " + $json.lastName}}

2. Number

Numbers represent numeric values and come in two forms: integers (whole numbers) and decimals (floating-point numbers).

Examples:

• 42 (integer)
• 3.14 (decimal)
• -100 (negative number)

Common use cases:

• Prices, quantities, counts
• IDs and reference numbers
• Mathematical calculations
• Age, duration, measurements

N8n tip: Numbers don’t need quotes. If you put quotes around them, they become strings!

3. Boolean

Booleans represent true or false values. They’re essential for conditional logic in your workflows.

Examples:

• true
• false

Common use cases:

• Status flags (isActive, isCompleted, hasAccess)
• Conditional routing in IF nodes
• Feature toggles
• Checkbox values

N8n tip: Use booleans in IF nodes to create branches in your workflow based on conditions.

4. Array (List)

Arrays are ordered collections of values. Think of them as lists where each item has a position (index starting at 0).

Examples:

["Marketing", "Sales", "Development"]
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

[true, false, true]

Common use cases:

• Lists of email recipients
• Multiple tags or categories
• Collection of items to process
• Results from database queries

N8n tip: Access array items using bracket notation: {{$json.tags[0]}} gets the first tag.

5. Object

Objects store data in key-value pairs. They’re like containers that hold related information together.

Example:

{
  "name": "Nancy",
  "department": "Automation",
  "skills": ["N8n", "Monday.com"],
  "yearsExperience": 0
}

Common use cases:

• User profiles
• Product information
• API responses
• Complex data structures

N8n tip: Access object properties using dot notation: {{$json.user.name}}

6. Null and Undefined

These represent the absence of a value, though they’re slightly different:

• Null: Intentionally empty value
• Undefined: Value hasn’t been set yet

Common use cases:

• Optional fields that weren’t filled out
• Missing data in API responses
• Placeholder for values to be added later

N8n tip: Check for null/undefined values to prevent errors: {{$json.email ?? "no-email@example.com"}}

Binary Data (Special Type in N8n)

N8n also handles binary data for files, images, PDFs, etc. This is stored separately from JSON data.

Common use cases:

• File uploads and downloads
• Image processing
• PDF generation
• Attachments in emails

Practical Example: Putting It All Together

Here’s what a typical data object might look like in an N8n workflow pulling from Monday.com:

{
  "itemId": 123456,
  "itemName": "Website Redesign Project",
  "status": "In Progress",
  "priority": "High",
  "assignees": ["Nancy", "John", "Sarah"],
  "budget": 15000.50,
  "isUrgent": true,
  "completionDate": null,
  "tags": ["design", "client-work", "Q4"],
  "metadata": {
    "createdBy": "Nancy",
    "lastModified": "2025-10-17",
    "department": "Marketing"
  }
}

In this example, we have:

• Numbers: itemId, budget
• Strings: itemName, status, priority, completionDate (when filled)
• Boolean: isUrgent
• Arrays: assignees, tags
• Object: metadata
• Null: completionDate (not yet set)

Common Data Type Mistakes to Avoid

1. String vs Number confusion "123" is not the same as 123. The first is text, the second is a number you can do math with.

2. Forgetting array indexes start at 0 The first item in an array is [0], not [1].

3. Missing quotes on strings N8n expressions need proper syntax: "text" not text

4. Not checking for null values Always handle cases where data might be missing to prevent workflow failures.

Tips for Working with Data Types in N8n

Use the data inspector: N8n shows you exactly what data type each field is. Click on any node execution to see the actual data.

Test with sample data: Before building complex workflows, test with simple, known data to understand how types transform.

Use Set node for conversions: When you need to change data types, the Set node is your friend. You can convert strings to numbers, split strings into arrays, etc.

Read node documentation: Each N8n node’s documentation tells you what data types it expects and returns.

My Learning Process

As I work through my automation classes, I’ve found that the best way to learn data types is by looking at real examples. Every time I connect a new app or run a workflow, I examine the data that comes through and identify each type.

Making mistakes has been incredibly valuable too. When a workflow breaks, understanding data types helps me quickly identify whether I’m passing a string when a number is expected, or trying to access an array item that doesn’t exist.

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What data type challenges have you faced in your automation journey? How do you handle data type conversions in your workflows?

#N8n #Automation #WorkflowAutomation #NoCode #DataTypes #LearningInPublic #TechSkills #AutomationEngineering

The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Model is a conceptual framework used to understand how different networking protocols interact and communicate within a network. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1984, the OSI model provides a standardized approach to network communication, ensuring compatibility and interoperability between different systems.

The Seven Layers of the OSI Model
The OSI model is divided into seven distinct layers, each serving a specific role in network communication. These layers are:

1. Physical Layer (Layer 1)

• Responsible for the actual transmission of raw data bits over a physical medium.
• Includes hardware components such as cables, switches, and network interface cards (NICs).
• Defines electrical, optical, and mechanical aspects of network connections.
• Deals with signal transmission and reception (e.g., voltage levels, timing, data rates).

2. Data Link Layer (Layer 2)
Ensures reliable data transfer between two directly connected nodes.
Manages error detection and correction, helping to prevent data corruption during transmission.
Uses MAC (Media Access Control) and LLC (Logical Link Control) sublayers.
Example technologies: Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), and MAC addresses.
Frames data into packets for transmission.

3. Network Layer (Layer 3)
Handles the routing of data packets between devices across different networks.
Uses logical addressing (e.g., IP addresses) to identify devices.
Determines the best path for data to travel through various networks.
Examples of protocols are: Internet Protocol (IP), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), and OSPF (Open Shortest Path First).
Facilitates internetworking and connectivity between different network types.

4. Transport Layer (Layer 4)
Ensures complete and reliable data transfer between sender and receiver.
Provides error detection, flow control, and retransmission if necessary.
Uses segmentation and reassembly to manage data efficiently.
Common protocols: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
TCP provides connection-oriented communication, ensuring data integrity.
UDP provides connectionless communication, useful for real-time applications like video streaming.

Understanding UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
UDP is a lightweight, fast, and efficient transport layer protocol that does not establish a dedicated connection before sending data.
Unlike TCP, UDP does not provide error correction, retransmission, or congestion control.
It is best suited for applications where speed is more important than reliability, such as:
Live streaming and video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, YouTube Live, VoIP services)
Online gaming (e.g., multiplayer games like Fortnite, Call of Duty)
Broadcast and multicast transmissions (e.g., DNS queries, IPTV streaming)
UDP messages, known as datagrams, are sent without guaranteeing their arrival, which reduces latency but increases the possibility of data loss.
Due to its low overhead, UDP is ideal for real-time applications that can tolerate occasional packet loss.

5. Session Layer (Layer 5)

• Manages and controls connections (sessions) between devices.
• Establishes, maintains, and terminates communication sessions.
• Example protocols: NetBIOS, RPC (Remote Procedure Call), and PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol).
• Ensures **synchronization and checkpointing**, allowing resumption of interrupted sessions.

6. Presentation Layer (Layer 6)

• Translates data into a format that applications can understand.
• Handles encryption, compression, and character encoding to ensure data security and efficiency.
• Example functions: SSL/TLS encryption for secure communication, data compression formats like ZIP, and encoding standards like ASCII and Unicode.
• Ensures data interoperability across different systems and applications.

7. Application Layer (Layer 7)
The layer closest to the end user, interacting directly with software applications.
Provides network services and applications such as web browsing, email, and file transfer. Examples: HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), HTTPS (Secure HTTP), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and DNS (Domain Name System).
Ensures user-friendly data representation and accessibility.

Key Functions of the OSI Model
– Encapsulation & Decapsulation: Data passes through each layer, gaining additional information (headers, footers) before transmission and having it removed upon reception.
– Flow Control: Manages data transmission speed to prevent network congestion.
– Error Handling: Detects and corrects transmission errors for reliable communication.
– Multiplexing & Demultiplexing: Allows multiple applications to share network resources efficiently.

Importance of the OSI Model
– Standardization: The OSI model provides a universal standard that helps different networking devices and protocols work together.
– Troubleshooting: By separating networking tasks into layers, it helps IT professionals diagnose and fix network issues more efficiently.
– Interoperability: Enables different hardware and software systems to communicate seamlessly.
– Security: Each layer has specific security measures, such as firewalls at the network layer and encryption at the presentation layer.
– Scalability: Supports the development of new technologies and protocols while maintaining compatibility with existing systems.

Comparison of OSI Model and TCP/IP Model
The OSI model is often compared to the (TCP/IP model) which is a more practical and widely used framework for real-world networking. The TCP/IP model consists of only four layers:
1. Network Interface (combines OSI Layers 1 & 2)
2. Internet (similar to OSI Layer 3)
3. Transport (similar to OSI Layer 4)
4. Application (combines OSI Layers 5, 6, & 7)

Although the OSI model is not directly implemented in most modern networks, it remains an essential conceptual guide for understanding and troubleshooting network protocols.

• Conclusion
  The OSI model is an essential framework for understanding how networks function.
• By breaking down communication into seven structured layers, it facilitates troubleshooting, enhances security, and ensures seamless data transfer between devices. Whether you are a networking professional, an IT student, or simply curious about how the internet works, understanding the OSI model is a fundamental step in mastering computer networks. A solid grasp of these layers allows better network management, troubleshooting, and optimization of network resources.