Read Binary File from Disk

This workflow demonstrates the basic usage of n8n's Read Binary File node. It starts with a Manual Trigger node, which executes when you click 'execute' in the n8n editor. The trigger connects directly to the Read Binary File node, configured to read a file from the path '/data/picture.jpg'. Upon execution, the workflow outputs the binary content of the file, making it available for further processing in downstream nodes.

The primary benefit is its simplicity and reliability for loading local files into n8n workflows without external dependencies. It saves time by providing a ready-to-use template for file ingestion, reducing setup errors. This is particularly useful in environments where files are stored on the server filesystem, such as Docker containers or self-hosted n8n instances.

Use cases include IoT data collection (e.g., reading sensor log files or images), document processing (scanning PDFs or CSVs), media handling (loading images for AI analysis), and backup automation (ingesting files before transformation or upload). Extend it by adding nodes like Convert to File, HTTP Request for upload, or AI nodes for content analysis. As a companion to official docs, it's perfect for learning and quick prototyping.