n8n-mcp-tools-expert

n8n-mcp provides tools organized into categories:

1. Node Discovery → [SEARCH_GUIDE.md](SEARCH_GUIDE.md)
2. Configuration Validation → [VALIDATION_GUIDE.md](VALIDATION_GUIDE.md)
3. Workflow Management → [WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md](WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md)
4. Template Library - Search and deploy 2,700+ real workflows
5. Documentation & Guides - Tool docs, AI agent guide, Code node guides

---

Most Used Tools (by success rate)

| Tool | Use When | Speed |

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

| search_nodes | Finding nodes by keyword | <20ms |

| get_node | Understanding node operations (detail="standard") | <10ms |

| validate_node | Checking configurations (mode="full") | <100ms |

| n8n_create_workflow | Creating workflows | 100-500ms |

| n8n_update_partial_workflow | Editing workflows (MOST USED!) | 50-200ms |

| validate_workflow | Checking complete workflow | 100-500ms |

| n8n_deploy_template | Deploy template to n8n instance | 200-500ms |

---

Finding the Right Node

Workflow:

```

1. search_nodes({query: "keyword"})
2. get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.name"})
3. [Optional] get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.name", mode: "docs"})

```

Example:

```javascript

// Step 1: Search

search_nodes({query: "slack"})

// Returns: nodes-base.slack

// Step 2: Get details

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"})

// Returns: operations, properties, examples (standard detail)

// Step 3: Get readable documentation

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", mode: "docs"})

// Returns: markdown documentation

```

Common pattern: search → get_node (18s average)

Validating Configuration

Workflow:

```

1. validate_node({nodeType, config: {}, mode: "minimal"}) - Check required fields
2. validate_node({nodeType, config, profile: "runtime"}) - Full validation
3. [Repeat] Fix errors, validate again

```

Common pattern: validate → fix → validate (23s thinking, 58s fixing per cycle)

Managing Workflows

Workflow:

```

1. n8n_create_workflow({name, nodes, connections})
2. n8n_validate_workflow({id})
3. n8n_update_partial_workflow({id, operations: [...]})
4. n8n_validate_workflow({id}) again
5. n8n_update_partial_workflow({id, operations: [{type: "activateWorkflow"}]})

```

Common pattern: iterative updates (56s average between edits)

---

Two different formats for different tools!

Format 1: Search/Validate Tools

```javascript

// Use SHORT prefix

"nodes-base.slack"

"nodes-base.httpRequest"

"nodes-base.webhook"

"nodes-langchain.agent"

```

Tools that use this:

• search_nodes (returns this format)
• get_node
• validate_node
• validate_workflow

Format 2: Workflow Tools

```javascript

// Use FULL prefix

"n8n-nodes-base.slack"

"n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest"

"n8n-nodes-base.webhook"

"@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent"

```

Tools that use this:

• n8n_create_workflow
• n8n_update_partial_workflow

Conversion

```javascript

// search_nodes returns BOTH formats

{

"nodeType": "nodes-base.slack", // For search/validate tools

"workflowNodeType": "n8n-nodes-base.slack" // For workflow tools

}

```

---

Mistake 1: Wrong nodeType Format

Problem: "Node not found" error

```javascript

// WRONG

get_node({nodeType: "slack"}) // Missing prefix

get_node({nodeType: "n8n-nodes-base.slack"}) // Wrong prefix

// CORRECT

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"})

```

Mistake 2: Using detail="full" by Default

Problem: Huge payload, slower response, token waste

```javascript

// WRONG - Returns 3-8K tokens, use sparingly

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", detail: "full"})

// CORRECT - Returns 1-2K tokens, covers 95% of use cases

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"}) // detail="standard" is default

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", detail: "standard"})

```

When to use detail="full":

• Debugging complex configuration issues
• Need complete property schema with all nested options
• Exploring advanced features

Better alternatives:

1. get_node({detail: "standard"}) - for operations list (default)
2. get_node({mode: "docs"}) - for readable documentation
3. get_node({mode: "search_properties", propertyQuery: "auth"}) - for specific property

Mistake 3: Not Using Validation Profiles

Problem: Too many false positives OR missing real errors

Profiles:

• minimal - Only required fields (fast, permissive)
• runtime - Values + types (recommended for pre-deployment)
• ai-friendly - Reduce false positives (for AI configuration)
• strict - Maximum validation (for production)

```javascript

// WRONG - Uses default profile

validate_node({nodeType, config})

// CORRECT - Explicit profile

validate_node({nodeType, config, profile: "runtime"})

```

Mistake 4: Ignoring Auto-Sanitization

What happens: ALL nodes sanitized on ANY workflow update

Auto-fixes:

• Binary operators (equals, contains) → removes singleValue
• Unary operators (isEmpty, isNotEmpty) → adds singleValue: true
• IF/Switch nodes → adds missing metadata

Cannot fix:

• Broken connections
• Branch count mismatches
• Paradoxical corrupt states

```javascript

// After ANY update, auto-sanitization runs on ALL nodes

n8n_update_partial_workflow({id, operations: [...]})

// → Automatically fixes operator structures

```

Mistake 5: Not Using Smart Parameters

Problem: Complex sourceIndex calculations for multi-output nodes

Old way (manual):

```javascript

// IF node connection

{

type: "addConnection",

source: "IF",

target: "Handler",

sourceIndex: 0 // Which output? Hard to remember!

}

```

New way (smart parameters):

```javascript

// IF node - semantic branch names

{

type: "addConnection",

source: "IF",

target: "True Handler",

branch: "true" // Clear and readable!

}

{

type: "addConnection",

source: "IF",

target: "False Handler",

branch: "false"

}

// Switch node - semantic case numbers

{

type: "addConnection",

source: "Switch",

target: "Handler A",

case: 0

}

```

Mistake 6: Not Using intent Parameter

Problem: Less helpful tool responses

```javascript

// WRONG - No context for response

n8n_update_partial_workflow({

id: "abc",

operations: [{type: "addNode", node: {...}}]

})

// CORRECT - Better AI responses

n8n_update_partial_workflow({

id: "abc",

intent: "Add error handling for API failures",

operations: [{type: "addNode", node: {...}}]

})

```

---

Pattern 1: Node Discovery (Most Common)

Common workflow: 18s average between steps

```javascript

// Step 1: Search (fast!)

const results = await search_nodes({

query: "slack",

mode: "OR", // Default: any word matches

limit: 20

});

// → Returns: nodes-base.slack, nodes-base.slackTrigger

// Step 2: Get details (~18s later, user reviewing results)

const details = await get_node({

nodeType: "nodes-base.slack",

includeExamples: true // Get real template configs

});

// → Returns: operations, properties, metadata

```

Pattern 2: Validation Loop

Typical cycle: 23s thinking, 58s fixing

```javascript

// Step 1: Validate

const result = await validate_node({

nodeType: "nodes-base.slack",

config: {

resource: "channel",

operation: "create"

},

profile: "runtime"

});

// Step 2: Check errors (~23s thinking)

if (!result.valid) {

console.log(result.errors); // "Missing required field: name"

}

// Step 3: Fix config (~58s fixing)

config.name = "general";

// Step 4: Validate again

await validate_node({...}); // Repeat until clean

```

Pattern 3: Workflow Editing

Most used update tool: 99.0% success rate, 56s average between edits

```javascript

// Iterative workflow building (NOT one-shot!)

// Edit 1

await n8n_update_partial_workflow({

id: "workflow-id",

intent: "Add webhook trigger",

operations: [{type: "addNode", node: {...}}]

});

// ~56s later...

// Edit 2

await n8n_update_partial_workflow({

id: "workflow-id",

intent: "Connect webhook to processor",

operations: [{type: "addConnection", source: "...", target: "..."}]

});

// ~56s later...

// Edit 3 (validation)

await n8n_validate_workflow({id: "workflow-id"});

// Ready? Activate!

await n8n_update_partial_workflow({

id: "workflow-id",

intent: "Activate workflow for production",

operations: [{type: "activateWorkflow"}]

});

```

---

Node Discovery Tools

See [SEARCH_GUIDE.md](SEARCH_GUIDE.md) for:

• search_nodes
• get_node with detail levels (minimal, standard, full)
• get_node modes (info, docs, search_properties, versions)

Validation Tools

See [VALIDATION_GUIDE.md](VALIDATION_GUIDE.md) for:

• Validation profiles explained
• validate_node with modes (minimal, full)
• validate_workflow complete structure
• Auto-sanitization system
• Handling validation errors

Workflow Management

See [WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md](WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md) for:

• n8n_create_workflow
• n8n_update_partial_workflow (17 operation types!)
• Smart parameters (branch, case)
• AI connection types (8 types)
• Workflow activation (activateWorkflow/deactivateWorkflow)
• n8n_deploy_template
• n8n_workflow_versions

---

Search Templates

```javascript

// Search by keyword (default mode)

search_templates({

query: "webhook slack",

limit: 20

});

// Search by node types

search_templates({

searchMode: "by_nodes",

nodeTypes: ["n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest", "n8n-nodes-base.slack"]

});

// Search by task type

search_templates({

searchMode: "by_task",

task: "webhook_processing"

});

// Search by metadata (complexity, setup time)

search_templates({

searchMode: "by_metadata",

complexity: "simple",

maxSetupMinutes: 15

});

```

Get Template Details

```javascript

get_template({

templateId: 2947,

mode: "structure" // nodes+connections only

});

get_template({

templateId: 2947,

mode: "full" // complete workflow JSON

});

```

Deploy Template Directly

```javascript

// Deploy template to your n8n instance

n8n_deploy_template({

templateId: 2947,

name: "My Weather to Slack", // Custom name (optional)

autoFix: true, // Auto-fix common issues (default)

autoUpgradeVersions: true // Upgrade node versions (default)

});

// Returns: workflow ID, required credentials, fixes applied

```

---

Get Tool Documentation

```javascript

// Overview of all tools

tools_documentation()

// Specific tool details

tools_documentation({

topic: "search_nodes",

depth: "full"

})

// Code node guides

tools_documentation({topic: "javascript_code_node_guide", depth: "full"})

tools_documentation({topic: "python_code_node_guide", depth: "full"})

```

AI Agent Guide

```javascript

// Comprehensive AI workflow guide

ai_agents_guide()

// Returns: Architecture, connections, tools, validation, best practices

```

Health Check

```javascript

// Quick health check

n8n_health_check()

// Detailed diagnostics

n8n_health_check({mode: "diagnostic"})

// → Returns: status, env vars, tool status, API connectivity

```

---

Always Available (no n8n API needed):

• search_nodes, get_node
• validate_node, validate_workflow
• search_templates, get_template
• tools_documentation, ai_agents_guide

Requires n8n API (N8N_API_URL + N8N_API_KEY):

• n8n_create_workflow
• n8n_update_partial_workflow
• n8n_validate_workflow (by ID)
• n8n_list_workflows, n8n_get_workflow
• n8n_test_workflow
• n8n_executions
• n8n_deploy_template
• n8n_workflow_versions
• n8n_autofix_workflow

If API tools unavailable, use templates and validation-only workflows.

---

get_node (Unified Node Information)

Detail Levels (mode="info", default):

• minimal (~200 tokens) - Basic metadata only
• standard (~1-2K tokens) - Essential properties + operations (RECOMMENDED)
• full (~3-8K tokens) - Complete schema (use sparingly)

Operation Modes:

• info (default) - Node schema with detail level
• docs - Readable markdown documentation
• search_properties - Find specific properties (use with propertyQuery)
• versions - List all versions with breaking changes
• compare - Compare two versions
• breaking - Show only breaking changes
• migrations - Show auto-migratable changes

```javascript

// Standard (recommended)

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest"})

// Get documentation

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.webhook", mode: "docs"})

// Search for properties

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.httpRequest", mode: "search_properties", propertyQuery: "auth"})

// Check versions

get_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.executeWorkflow", mode: "versions"})

```

validate_node (Unified Validation)

Modes:

• full (default) - Comprehensive validation with errors/warnings/suggestions
• minimal - Quick required fields check only

Profiles (for mode="full"):

• minimal - Very lenient
• runtime - Standard (default, recommended)
• ai-friendly - Balanced for AI workflows
• strict - Most thorough (production)

```javascript

// Full validation with runtime profile

validate_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config: {...}, profile: "runtime"})

// Quick required fields check

validate_node({nodeType: "nodes-base.webhook", config: {}, mode: "minimal"})

```

---

| Tool | Response Time | Payload Size |

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

| search_nodes | <20ms | Small |

| get_node (standard) | <10ms | ~1-2KB |

| get_node (full) | <100ms | 3-8KB |

| validate_node (minimal) | <50ms | Small |

| validate_node (full) | <100ms | Medium |

| validate_workflow | 100-500ms | Medium |

| n8n_create_workflow | 100-500ms | Medium |

| n8n_update_partial_workflow | 50-200ms | Small |

| n8n_deploy_template | 200-500ms | Medium |

---

Do

• Use get_node({detail: "standard"}) for most use cases
• Specify validation profile explicitly (profile: "runtime")
• Use smart parameters (branch, case) for clarity
• Include intent parameter in workflow updates
• Follow search → get_node → validate workflow
• Iterate workflows (avg 56s between edits)
• Validate after every significant change
• Use includeExamples: true for real configs
• Use n8n_deploy_template for quick starts

Don't

• Use detail: "full" unless necessary (wastes tokens)
• Forget nodeType prefix (nodes-base.*)
• Skip validation profiles
• Try to build workflows in one shot (iterate!)
• Ignore auto-sanitization behavior
• Use full prefix (n8n-nodes-base.*) with search/validate tools
• Forget to activate workflows after building

---

Most Important:

1. Use get_node with detail: "standard" (default) - covers 95% of use cases
2. nodeType formats differ: nodes-base. (search/validate) vs n8n-nodes-base. (workflows)
3. Specify validation profiles (runtime recommended)
4. Use smart parameters (branch="true", case=0)
5. Include intent parameter in workflow updates
6. Auto-sanitization runs on ALL nodes during updates
7. Workflows can be activated via API (activateWorkflow operation)
8. Workflows are built iteratively (56s avg between edits)

Common Workflow:

1. search_nodes → find node
2. get_node → understand config
3. validate_node → check config
4. n8n_create_workflow → build
5. n8n_validate_workflow → verify
6. n8n_update_partial_workflow → iterate
7. activateWorkflow → go live!

For details, see:

• [SEARCH_GUIDE.md](SEARCH_GUIDE.md) - Node discovery
• [VALIDATION_GUIDE.md](VALIDATION_GUIDE.md) - Configuration validation
• [WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md](WORKFLOW_GUIDE.md) - Workflow management

---

Related Skills:

• n8n Expression Syntax - Write expressions in workflow fields
• n8n Workflow Patterns - Architectural patterns from templates
• n8n Validation Expert - Interpret validation errors
• n8n Node Configuration - Operation-specific requirements
• n8n Code JavaScript - Write JavaScript in Code nodes
• n8n Code Python - Write Python in Code nodes