Node-Bench
Start learning

Naming Nodes for Clarity in n8n

Difficulty
1/10
Tags
EssentialsBest PracticeHTTP RequestEdit Fields (Set)JSON

When you build workflows in n8n, nodes start with generic names like "HTTP Request" or "Edit Fields." These defaults work fine for tiny workflows, but as your automations grow, you will find yourself scrolling through dozens of nodes wondering "wait, which HTTP Request was that?"

Descriptive node names are a best practice that pays off immediately. A name like "Fetch User Profile" or "Send Slack Alert" tells you exactly what that node does without having to click on it.

In this challenge, you will work with a completed workflow, execute it to understand what each node does, and then rename the nodes with clear, action-oriented names.

What you'll practice:

  • Understanding workflow logic by executing and observing
  • Renaming nodes with descriptive action names
  • Following the "verb + object" naming pattern

Your Task

  1. 1Copy the exercise below
  2. 2Paste into your n8n editor (Ctrl+V)
  3. 3Solve it — use hints if you get stuck
  4. 4Check the solution when done

A completed workflow is provided that fetches a random user and transforms the data. Your task:

  1. Execute the workflow to see what each node does
  2. Understand the purpose of each node by examining its input and output
  3. Rename each node with a descriptive name that describes its action

Naming guidelines:

  • Use "verb + object" format (e.g., "Fetch User Data", "Extract Key Fields")
  • Be specific about what the node does
  • Keep names concise but meaningful

Current node names to rename:

  • HTTP Request - What data does it fetch?
  • Edit Fields - What transformation does it perform?
  • Edit Fields1 - What is the final output it creates?

There is no strict "correct" answer here. The goal is to practice giving nodes names that make the workflow self-documenting.

Get the exercise workflow

Create a free account to copy exercises into your n8n editor.

Hints

  1. Execute first: Click "Execute Workflow" and look at each node's output
  2. Double-click to rename: Double-click any node to open its settings, then edit the name at the top. Or select a node and press space.
  3. Think about the action: What verb describes what this node does? (Fetch, Extract, Transform, Format, Filter, Send, etc.)
  4. Include the object: What is the node acting on? (User Data, Random User, User Summary, etc.)

Example good names:

  • "Fetch Random User" instead of "HTTP Request"
  • "Extract User Details" instead of "Edit Fields"
  • "Format User Summary" instead of "Edit Fields1"

Tip: Future-you will thank present-you for clear node names when debugging at 2 AM.

Explanation

Why node naming matters:

In n8n, every node you add gets a generic default name. When your workflow has 3 nodes, this is manageable. When it has 30 nodes, it becomes chaos. Clear node names make workflows:

  • Self-documenting: Anyone can understand the workflow at a glance
  • Easier to debug: Find the problematic step quickly
  • Maintainable: Come back months later and still understand it
  • Collaborative: Team members can work with your workflows

The naming pattern:

The most effective pattern is "Verb + Object":

  • Verb: What action does the node perform? (Fetch, Get, Extract, Transform, Filter, Send, Create, Update, Delete)
  • Object: What is the node acting on? (User Data, Order Details, Email Notification, Slack Message)

Examples from this workflow:

  1. HTTP Request -> Fetch Random User: The node fetches a random user profile from an API. "Fetch" is the action, "Random User" is what we are fetching.
  2. Edit Fields -> Extract User Details: This node pulls out specific fields (name, email, country, age) from the raw API response. "Extract" describes the action of pulling out specific data.
  3. Edit Fields1 -> Format User Summary: This node shapes the data into a readable summary. "Format" indicates we are structuring data for output.

When to rename nodes:

Rename nodes as you build your workflow, not after. It takes 2 seconds to give a node a good name, but minutes to figure out what "Edit Fields3" does in a complex workflow.

Copy the Solution

Paste into n8n with Ctrl+V to compare with your approach.

How was this lesson?

Get the solution workflow

Create a free account to copy solutions into your n8n editor.

Related Content

Continue your learning journey with these related lessons and guides:

Connect n8n to Any API: Understanding HTTP Requests

Learn how to use the HTTP Request node in n8n to connect to any API. This guide covers all HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE), sending data, and handling responses.

essentialshttp-requestapi
Guide
Next Steps Preview

Congratulations on completing Section 1. See what's coming next and preview the skills you'll build in the rest of the course.

essentials
Guide
Trigger Workflows from Emails

Learn how to trigger n8n workflows from incoming emails using Gmail Trigger and extract key email fields for processing.

Beginnergmail-triggeredit-fieldsgmail
Lesson
Filter Data by Condition in n8n

Learn how to filter products by multiple conditions in n8n. Practice using the Filter node to keep only items that match specific criteria.

Beginneressentialsfilter-nodehttp-request
Lesson
Fetch Data from an API

Learn to fetch JSON data from an API endpoint using n8n's HTTP Request node.

Beginneressentialshttp-requestapi
Lesson