n8n Workflow: Basic Webhook Trigger with Code and Gmail Actions

This n8n workflow demonstrates a fundamental automation pattern: triggering an action via a webhook, processing data with custom code, and then sending an email using Gmail. It serves as a starting point for more complex integrations where custom logic and email notifications are required.

What it does

This workflow performs the following steps:

1. Listens for a Webhook: The workflow is initiated by an incoming HTTP request to a defined webhook URL.
2. Executes Custom Code: After receiving the webhook, a Code node is used to execute custom JavaScript logic. This node is currently empty in the provided JSON, but it's where you would add any data manipulation, validation, or transformation required for your specific use case.
3. Sends an Email via Gmail: Finally, the workflow uses the Gmail node to send an email. The specifics of the email (recipient, subject, body, attachments) would be configured within this node.

Prerequisites/Requirements

To use this workflow, you will need:

• n8n Instance: A running instance of n8n (self-hosted or cloud).
• Gmail Account: An active Gmail account configured as a credential in n8n to allow the workflow to send emails.
• Basic JavaScript Knowledge (Optional): If you plan to add custom logic to the "Code" node, familiarity with JavaScript will be beneficial.

Setup/Usage

1. Import the Workflow:
   • Copy the provided JSON code.
   • In your n8n instance, click "New" in the workflows section.
   • Click the three dots menu (...) and select "Import from JSON".
   • Paste the JSON code and click "Import".
2. Configure Credentials:
   • Locate the "Gmail" node.
   • Click on the "Credential" field and select your existing Gmail credential or create a new one if you haven't already. Follow the n8n documentation for setting up Google OAuth credentials.
3. Activate the Webhook:
   • Locate the "Webhook" node.
   • After saving the workflow, activate it by toggling the "Active" switch in the top right corner of the n8n editor.
   • Once active, the webhook node will display a URL. This is the endpoint you will send HTTP requests to trigger the workflow.
4. Customize the Code Node (Optional):
   • Click on the "Code" node.
   • Add your desired JavaScript code to process the data received from the webhook.
5. Customize the Gmail Node:
   • Click on the "Gmail" node.
   • Configure the email details such as "To", "Subject", "Body", and any attachments based on your requirements. You can use expressions to dynamically insert data from previous nodes (e.g., from the webhook or code node).
6. Test the Workflow:
   • Send an HTTP request (e.g., using Postman, curl, or another application) to the webhook URL obtained in step 3.
   • Observe the execution in n8n to ensure it runs as expected and the email is sent.

This workflow provides a flexible foundation for building automations that respond to external events, apply custom logic, and communicate via email.