10d (edited) • Notes 📝
🔹 n8n Basics – Key Concepts
1️⃣ What is n8n?
n8n is an AI automation & workflow tool (like Zapier / Make) but more powerful and flexible.
Before building workflows or AI agents, it’s important to understand core terms.
2️⃣ APIs vs Webhooks (Very Important)
API (Application Programming Interface)
You request data from another app
Example:
👉 n8n asks Facebook: “Give me leads”
Webhook (Reverse API)
Another app sends data to you automatically when an event happens
Example:
👉 Website says: “A new form is submitted” → sends data to n8n
📌 Simple rule:
API = You ask
Webhook = You receive automatically
3️⃣ HTTP Request Tool in n8n
Used when no direct integration exists
Helps connect any external API
Very powerful for custom automations
4️⃣ Data & Databases
🔹 JSON (Most Important Format)
JSON is how data travels between apps
Lightweight, readable, and fast
Example:
{
"name": "Ayesha",
"order": 2500
}
🔹 Database Types
Relational DB: Tables (rows & columns)
JSON DB: Stores data as flexible objects (used a lot in APIs & AI)
5️⃣ Embeddings, Vectors & Vector Databases (AI Core)
Embeddings: Convert text → numbers
Vectors: Those numbers represent meaning
Vector Databases: Store these meanings for smart search
Example:
“Doctor” ≈ “Physician” (meaning close)
AI understands context, not just words
6️⃣ AI Agent Components in n8n
🧠 Chat Model (Brain)
Does thinking & reasoning
Examples: Gemini, Claude, Mistral, Ollama
🗂 Memory
Remembers conversation & history
Simple memory → small data
Database memory → large systems
🛠 Tools
Actions AI can perform
Email sending, HTTP calls, database search, summarization
❓ Important Concept Questions (Explained Simply)
🔹 Why avoid direct engine immersion?
👉 Because jumping straight into building workflows without concepts causes:
Confusion
Poor architecture
Broken automations
📌 First understand terms + flow, then build.
Foundation > Speed
🔹 How does JSON structure data?
JSON structures data in key–value pairs, making it:
Easy for humans to read
Easy for machines to process
Standard for APIs & AI tools
Example:
"user": {
"name": "Ali",
"age": 25
}
🔹 How do vectors aid language models?
Vectors help AI:
Understand meaning, not exact words
Find similar ideas
Perform semantic search & smart replies
📌 This is why AI can answer:
“doctor” ≈ “medical professional”
🧠 Final Takeaway
n8n + AI works best when you understand:
APIs & Webhooks
JSON data
Vectors & embeddings
AI agent components
✨ Automation without understanding = fragile systems
✨ Knowledge first = scalable automation
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🔹 n8n Basics – Key Concepts
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