rebyte.ai
Back to skills

n8n-mcp-tools-expert

Expert guide for using n8n-mcp MCP tools effectively. Use when searching for nodes, validating configurations, accessing templates, managing workflows, or using any n8n-mcp tool. Provides tool selection guidance, parameter formats, and common patterns.

Automation
Use this skill

Description

n8n MCP Tools Expert

Master guide for using n8n-mcp MCP server tools to build workflows.

Tool Categories

n8n-mcp provides tools organized into categories:

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

Quick Reference

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

Tool Selection Guide

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:

// 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)

Critical: nodeType Formats

Two different formats for different tools!

Format 1: Search/Validate Tools

// 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

// 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

// search_nodes returns BOTH formats
{
  "nodeType": "nodes-base.slack",          // For search/validate tools
  "workflowNodeType": "n8n-nodes-base.slack"  // For workflow tools
}

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Wrong nodeType Format

Problem: "Node not found" error

// 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

// 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)
// 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
// 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):

// IF node connection
{
  type: "addConnection",
  source: "IF",
  target: "Handler",
  sourceIndex: 0  // Which output? Hard to remember!
}

New way (smart parameters):

// 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

// 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: {...}}]
})

Tool Usage Patterns

Pattern 1: Node Discovery (Most Common)

Common workflow: 18s average between steps

// 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

// 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

// 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"}]
});

Detailed Guides

Node Discovery Tools

See 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 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 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

Template Usage

Search Templates

// 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

get_template({
  templateId: 2947,
  mode: "structure"  // nodes+connections only
});

get_template({
  templateId: 2947,
  mode: "full"  // complete workflow JSON
});

Deploy Template Directly

// 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

Self-Help Tools

Get Tool Documentation

// 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

// Comprehensive AI workflow guide
ai_agents_guide()
// Returns: Architecture, connections, tools, validation, best practices

Health Check

// Quick health check
n8n_health_check()

// Detailed diagnostics
n8n_health_check({mode: "diagnostic"})
// → Returns: status, env vars, tool status, API connectivity

Tool Availability

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.

Unified Tool Reference

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
// 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)
// 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"})

Performance Characteristics

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

Best Practices

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

Summary

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:

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

Published by czlonkowski

Ready to use this skill?

Run AI coding agents with curated skills in the cloud.

Get Started Free