How do I call an external API in n8n?

Dev

There are several ways to call external APIs in n8n, depending on your needs and the specific API you're working with.

Primary Methods

1. HTTP Request Node (Most Common)

The HTTP Request node is the most flexible way to call any external API:

Configuration:

Method: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.
URL: The API endpoint
Headers: Add authentication tokens, content-type, etc.
Body: For POST/PUT requests (JSON, form data, etc.)
Authentication: Built-in support for various auth methods

Example setup:

Method: POST
URL: https://api.example.com/users
Headers: Content-Type: application/json
Authentication: Bearer Token or API Key
Body: JSON data from previous nodes

2. Pre-built Service Nodes

n8n offers hundreds of pre-built nodes for popular services:

Slack, Discord, Telegram for messaging
Google Sheets, Airtable for data storage
Stripe, PayPal for payments
GitHub, GitLab for code repositories
Salesforce, HubSpot for CRM

These nodes handle authentication and API specifics automatically.

3. Webhook Nodes

For receiving data from external APIs:

Webhook node: Creates an endpoint to receive HTTP requests
Webhook Response node: Send responses back to the caller

Best Practices

Authentication:

Store API keys as credentials in n8n's credential manager
Use environment variables for sensitive data
Implement proper error handling for auth failures

Error Handling:

Use the "Continue on Fail" option when appropriate
Add conditional logic to handle different response codes
Implement retry mechanisms for unreliable APIs

Data Processing:

Use Set nodes to transform data between API calls
Leverage Code nodes for complex data manipulation
Use Split in Batches for handling large datasets

Example Workflow Pattern

Trigger (Schedule, Webhook, etc.)
HTTP Request to fetch data from API A
Set node to transform the data
HTTP Request to send data to API B
Error handling and logging nodes

The HTTP Request node covers most external API integration needs, while pre-built nodes offer convenience for popular services. Choose based on whether a dedicated node exists for your target service and how much customization you need.

Dev

To call an external API in n8n, you typically use the HTTP Request node. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

✅ Steps to Call an External API in n8n

1. Add the "HTTP Request" Node

Click on + to add a new node.
Choose "HTTP Request" from the node list.

2. Configure the HTTP Request Node

HTTP Method: Choose the method required (e.g., GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
URL: Enter the full API endpoint URL (e.g., https://api.example.com/data).
Authentication: Choose how the API is authenticated (None, Basic Auth, OAuth2, API Key, etc.)
Headers: Add custom headers (like Content-Type, Authorization) if needed.
Query Parameters: Add any query strings required (e.g., ?userId=123).
Body Parameters: For POST/PUT requests, add the request body here (can be JSON, Form-Data, etc.)

3. Optional: Use Data from Previous Nodes

You can reference dynamic values using expressions like {{$json["fieldName"]}}.

4. Run the Workflow

Click “Execute Node” to test.
You’ll see the response from the external API in the output panel.

✅ Example: GET Request to JSONPlaceholder

URL: https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1
Method: GET
No authentication or headers needed

✅ Example: POST with JSON body

URL: https://api.example.com/users
Method: POST
Headers:
- Content-Type: application/json
- Authorization: Bearer <token>
Body Parameters (JSON):

{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john@example.com"
}

Let me know if you want an example using a specific API (like OpenAI, Stripe, or a local API).