n8n for Beginners: Looping Over Items

# N8N for Beginners: Looping Over Items ## Description This workflow is designed for **n8n beginners** to understand how n8n handles **looping (iteration)** over multiple items. It highlights two key behaviors: - **Built-In Looping:** By default, most n8n nodes iterate over each item in an input array. - **Explicit Looping:** The **Loop Over Items** node allows controlled iteration, enabling **custom batch processing** and multi-step workflows. This workflow demonstrates the difference between processing an **unsplit array of strings (single item)** vs. **a split array (multiple items)**. --- ## Setup ### 1. Input Data To begin, **paste the following JSON** into the **Manual Trigger** node: ```json { "urls": [ "https://www.reddit.com", "https://www.n8n.io/", "https://n8n.io/", "https://supabase.com/", "https://duckduckgo.com/" ] } ``` **Steps to Paste Data:** - **Double-click** the Manual Trigger node. - Click **Edit Output** (top-right corner). - Paste the JSON and **Save**. - The node **turns purple**, indicating that test data is pinned. ### 2. Click Test Workflow button at the bottom of the canvas --- ## Explanation of the n8n Nodes in the Workflow | Node Name | Purpose | Documentation Link | |-----------|---------|--------------------| | **[Manual Trigger](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger/)** | Starts the workflow manually and sends test data | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger/) | | **[Split In](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitin/)** | Converts an array of strings into separate JSON objects | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitin/) | | **[Loop Over Items (Loop Over Items 1)](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitinbatches/)** | Demonstrates how an **unsplit** array is treated as one item | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitinbatches/) | | **[Loop Over Items (Loop Over Items 2)](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitinbatches/)** | Iterates over **each item separately** | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.splitinbatches/) | | **[Wait](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.wait/)** | Introduces a delay per iteration (set to 1 second) | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.wait/) | | **[Code](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.code/)** | Adds a constant parameter (`param1`) to each item | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.code/) | | **[NoOp (Result Nodes)](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.noop/)** | Displays output for inspection | [Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.noop/) | --- ## Execution Details ### 1. How the Workflow Runs - **Manual Trigger starts execution** with the pasted JSON data. - The workflow follows **two paths**: 1. **Unsplit Array Path** - **Loop Over Items 1** - Processes the entire array as **a single item**. - **Result1 & Result5:** Show that the array was **not split**. 2. **Split Array Path** - **Split In → Loop Over Items 2** - **Splits** the array into **separate objects**. - **Result2, Result3, Result4:** Show that each item is processed **individually**. - A **Wait node (1 sec delay)** demonstrates **controlled execution**. - Code nodes modify the JSON, adding a parameter (`param1`). ### 2. What You Will See | Node | Expected Output | |------|-----------------| | **Result1 & Result5** | The entire array is processed **as one item**. | | **Result2, Result3, Result4** | The array is **split and processed** as **individual items**. | | **Wait Node** | Adds a **1-second delay per item** in **Loop Over Items 2**. | --- ## Use Cases This workflow is useful for: - **API Data Processing:** Loop through **API responses** containing arrays. - **Web Scraping:** Process **multiple URLs** individually. - **Task Automation:** Execute **a sequence of actions per item**. - **Workflow Optimization:** Control execution order, delays, and dependencies. --- ## Notes - Sticky notes are included in the workflow **for easy reference**. - The **Wait node** is **optional**—remove it for faster execution. - This template is structured for **beginners** but serves as a **building block** for more advanced automations. ---

Platform

n8n

Category

Data & Analytics

Price

Free

Creator

Dominik Baranowski

• code
• noOp
• wait
• splitOut
• stickyNote
• manualTrigger
• splitInBatches