n8n-expression-syntax

All dynamic content in n8n uses double curly braces:

```

{{expression}}

```

Examples:

```

✅ {{$json.email}}

✅ {{$json.body.name}}

✅ {{$node["HTTP Request"].json.data}}

❌ $json.email (no braces - treated as literal text)

❌ {$json.email} (single braces - invalid)

```

---

$json - Current Node Output

Access data from the current node:

```javascript

{{$json.fieldName}}

{{$json['field with spaces']}}

{{$json.nested.property}}

{{$json.items[0].name}}

```

$node - Reference Other Nodes

Access data from any previous node:

```javascript

{{$node["Node Name"].json.fieldName}}

{{$node["HTTP Request"].json.data}}

{{$node["Webhook"].json.body.email}}

```

Important:

• Node names must be in quotes
• Node names are case-sensitive
• Must match exact node name from workflow

$now - Current Timestamp

Access current date/time:

```javascript

{{$now}}

{{$now.toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd')}}

{{$now.toFormat('HH:mm:ss')}}

{{$now.plus({days: 7})}}

```

$env - Environment Variables

Access environment variables:

```javascript

{{$env.API_KEY}}

{{$env.DATABASE_URL}}

```

---

Most Common Mistake: Webhook data is NOT at the root!

Webhook Node Output Structure

```javascript

{

"headers": {...},

"params": {...},

"query": {...},

"body": { // ⚠️ USER DATA IS HERE!

"name": "John",

"email": "john@example.com",

"message": "Hello"

}

}

```

Correct Webhook Data Access

```javascript

❌ WRONG: {{$json.name}}

❌ WRONG: {{$json.email}}

✅ CORRECT: {{$json.body.name}}

✅ CORRECT: {{$json.body.email}}

✅ CORRECT: {{$json.body.message}}

```

Why: Webhook node wraps incoming data under .body property to preserve headers, params, and query parameters.

---

Access Nested Fields

```javascript

// Simple nesting

{{$json.user.email}}

// Array access

{{$json.data[0].name}}

{{$json.items[0].id}}

// Bracket notation for spaces

{{$json['field name']}}

{{$json['user data']['first name']}}

```

Reference Other Nodes

```javascript

// Node without spaces

{{$node["Set"].json.value}}

// Node with spaces (common!)

{{$node["HTTP Request"].json.data}}

{{$node["Respond to Webhook"].json.message}}

// Webhook node

{{$node["Webhook"].json.body.email}}

```

Combine Variables

```javascript

// Concatenation (automatic)

Hello {{$json.body.name}}!

// In URLs

https://api.example.com/users/{{$json.body.user_id}}

// In object properties

{

"name": "={{$json.body.name}}",

"email": "={{$json.body.email}}"

}

```

---

❌ Code Nodes

Code nodes use direct JavaScript access, NOT expressions!

```javascript

// ❌ WRONG in Code node

const email = '={{$json.email}}';

const name = '{{$json.body.name}}';

// ✅ CORRECT in Code node

const email = $json.email;

const name = $json.body.name;

// Or using Code node API

const email = $input.item.json.email;

const allItems = $input.all();

```

❌ Webhook Paths

```javascript

// ❌ WRONG

path: "{{$json.user_id}}/webhook"

// ✅ CORRECT

path: "user-webhook" // Static paths only

```

❌ Credential Fields

```javascript

// ❌ WRONG

apiKey: "={{$env.API_KEY}}"

// ✅ CORRECT

Use n8n credential system, not expressions

```

---

1. Always Use {{}}

Expressions must be wrapped in double curly braces.

```javascript

❌ $json.field

✅ {{$json.field}}

```

2. Use Quotes for Spaces

Field or node names with spaces require bracket notation:

```javascript

❌ {{$json.field name}}

✅ {{$json['field name']}}

❌ {{$node.HTTP Request.json}}

✅ {{$node["HTTP Request"].json}}

```

3. Match Exact Node Names

Node references are case-sensitive:

```javascript

❌ {{$node["http request"].json}} // lowercase

❌ {{$node["Http Request"].json}} // wrong case

✅ {{$node["HTTP Request"].json}} // exact match

```

4. No Nested {{}}

Don't double-wrap expressions:

```javascript

❌ {{{$json.field}}}

✅ {{$json.field}}

```

---

For complete error catalog with fixes, see [COMMON_MISTAKES.md](COMMON_MISTAKES.md)

Quick Fixes

| Mistake | Fix |

|---------|-----|

| $json.field | {{$json.field}} |

| {{$json.field name}} | {{$json['field name']}} |

| {{$node.HTTP Request}} | {{$node["HTTP Request"]}} |

| {{{$json.field}}} | {{$json.field}} |

| {{$json.name}} (webhook) | {{$json.body.name}} |

| '={{$json.email}}' (Code node) | $json.email |

---

For real workflow examples, see [EXAMPLES.md](EXAMPLES.md)

Example 1: Webhook to Slack

Webhook receives:

```json

{

"body": {

"name": "John Doe",

"email": "john@example.com",

"message": "Hello!"

}

}

```

In Slack node text field:

```

New form submission!

Name: {{$json.body.name}}

Email: {{$json.body.email}}

Message: {{$json.body.message}}

```

Example 2: HTTP Request to Email

HTTP Request returns:

```json

{

"data": {

"items": [

{"name": "Product 1", "price": 29.99}

]

}

}

```

In Email node (reference HTTP Request):

```

Product: {{$node["HTTP Request"].json.data.items[0].name}}

Price: ${{$node["HTTP Request"].json.data.items[0].price}}

```

Example 3: Format Timestamp

```javascript

// Current date

{{$now.toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd')}}

// Result: 2025-10-20

// Time

{{$now.toFormat('HH:mm:ss')}}

// Result: 14:30:45

// Full datetime

{{$now.toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm')}}

// Result: 2025-10-20 14:30

```

---

Arrays

```javascript

// First item

{{$json.users[0].email}}

// Array length

{{$json.users.length}}

// Last item

{{$json.users[$json.users.length - 1].name}}

```

Objects

```javascript

// Dot notation (no spaces)

{{$json.user.email}}

// Bracket notation (with spaces or dynamic)

{{$json['user data'].email}}

```

Strings

```javascript

// Concatenation (automatic)

Hello {{$json.name}}!

// String methods

{{$json.email.toLowerCase()}}

{{$json.name.toUpperCase()}}

```

Numbers

```javascript

// Direct use

{{$json.price}}

// Math operations

{{$json.price * 1.1}} // Add 10%

{{$json.quantity + 5}}

```

---

Conditional Content

```javascript

// Ternary operator

{{$json.status === 'active' ? 'Active User' : 'Inactive User'}}

// Default values

{{$json.email || 'no-email@example.com'}}

```

Date Manipulation

```javascript

// Add days

{{$now.plus({days: 7}).toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd')}}

// Subtract hours

{{$now.minus({hours: 24}).toISO()}}

// Set specific date

{{DateTime.fromISO('2025-12-25').toFormat('MMMM dd, yyyy')}}

```

String Manipulation

```javascript

// Substring

{{$json.email.substring(0, 5)}}

// Replace

{{$json.message.replace('old', 'new')}}

// Split and join

{{$json.tags.split(',').join(', ')}}

```

---

Test in Expression Editor

1. Click field with expression
2. Open expression editor (click "fx" icon)
3. See live preview of result
4. Check for errors highlighted in red

Common Error Messages

"Cannot read property 'X' of undefined"

→ Parent object doesn't exist

→ Check your data path

"X is not a function"

→ Trying to call method on non-function

→ Check variable type

Expression shows as literal text

→ Missing {{ }}

→ Add curly braces

---

Available Methods

String:

• .toLowerCase(), .toUpperCase()
• .trim(), .replace(), .substring()
• .split(), .includes()

Array:

• .length, .map(), .filter()
• .find(), .join(), .slice()

DateTime (Luxon):

• .toFormat(), .toISO(), .toLocal()
• .plus(), .minus(), .set()

Number:

• .toFixed(), .toString()
• Math operations: +, -, *, /, %

---

✅ Do

• Always use {{ }} for dynamic content
• Use bracket notation for field names with spaces
• Reference webhook data from .body
• Use $node for data from other nodes
• Test expressions in expression editor

❌ Don't

• Don't use expressions in Code nodes
• Don't forget quotes around node names with spaces
• Don't double-wrap with extra {{ }}
• Don't assume webhook data is at root (it's under .body!)
• Don't use expressions in webhook paths or credentials

---

• n8n MCP Tools Expert: Learn how to validate expressions using MCP tools
• n8n Workflow Patterns: See expressions in real workflow examples
• n8n Node Configuration: Understand when expressions are needed

---

Essential Rules:

1. Wrap expressions in {{ }}
2. Webhook data is under .body
3. No {{ }} in Code nodes
4. Quote node names with spaces
5. Node names are case-sensitive

Most Common Mistakes:

• Missing {{ }} → Add braces
• {{$json.name}} in webhooks → Use {{$json.body.name}}
• {{$json.email}} in Code → Use $json.email
• {{$node.HTTP Request}} → Use {{$node["HTTP Request"]}}

For more details, see:

• [COMMON_MISTAKES.md](COMMON_MISTAKES.md) - Complete error catalog
• [EXAMPLES.md](EXAMPLES.md) - Real workflow examples

---

Need Help? Reference the n8n expression documentation or use n8n-mcp validation tools to check your expressions.