HTTP Request consultants

Q: What does the HTTP Request node do in n8n?

The HTTP Request node sends HTTP requests to any URL or API endpoint from within an n8n workflow. It supports all standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS), handles authentication, sends custom headers and request bodies, and parses the response for use in subsequent workflow nodes. It's the go-to node for connecting to any service with a web API.

Q: What authentication methods does the HTTP Request node support?

The HTTP Request node supports API key (header or query parameter), OAuth2 (authorisation code and client credentials flows), bearer token, basic auth (username and password), digest auth, and custom header-based authentication. You can also use n8n's credential management to store and reuse authentication details securely across multiple workflows.

Q: Can the HTTP Request node handle pagination for large API responses?

Yes. The HTTP Request node has built-in pagination support. You can configure it to follow next-page links, increment page numbers, or use cursor-based pagination. This is important for APIs that return results in pages (like listing all records from a CRM or pulling transaction history), where you need to make multiple requests to get the complete dataset.

Q: How do you handle errors and retries with the HTTP Request node?

The HTTP Request node can be configured to retry on failure with a specified number of attempts and delay between retries. You can also use n8n's error handling features to catch HTTP errors (4xx, 5xx responses) and route them to an error-handling branch of the workflow. This is critical for production workflows where an API might be temporarily unavailable.

Q: Can the HTTP Request node send and receive files?

Yes. The node can send files as multipart form data or binary request bodies, and it can download files from URLs. The response can be processed as binary data and passed to subsequent nodes for storage, processing, or forwarding. This is useful for workflows that need to upload documents to an API, download reports, or transfer files between systems.

We can help you automate your business with HTTP Request and hundreds of other systems to improve efficiency and productivity. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss implementing HTTP Request.

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About HTTP Request

The HTTP Request node is one of the most used nodes in n8n. It lets a workflow send HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE) to any web API or URL, making it the universal connector for services that don’t have a dedicated n8n integration node. If a system has a REST API, the HTTP Request node can talk to it.

This node handles authentication (API keys, OAuth2, bearer tokens, basic auth), custom headers, query parameters, request bodies (JSON, form data, binary), pagination, response parsing, and error handling. It can upload and download files, follow redirects, and process responses as JSON, text, or binary data.

At Osher, the HTTP Request node appears in nearly every n8n workflow we build. It connects to client-specific APIs, third-party SaaS platforms, internal microservices, and AI model endpoints. We used it extensively in our BOM weather data pipeline project, where the workflow pulled weather data from external APIs and pushed processed results into the client’s systems. It’s also central to every system integration project where the target system doesn’t have a native n8n node.

If your automation project needs to connect to an API that n8n doesn’t have a built-in node for, the HTTP Request node fills that gap. Talk to our n8n team about building API integrations into your workflows.

HTTP Request FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how HTTP Request consultants can help with integration and implementation

What does the HTTP Request node do in n8n?

When should we use the HTTP Request node instead of a dedicated integration node?

Use the HTTP Request node when n8n doesn’t have a built-in node for the service you need to connect to, when you need to call a specific API endpoint that the built-in node doesn’t expose, or when you’re integrating with an internal or custom API. If n8n has a dedicated node for a service (like Slack, Google Sheets, or HubSpot), the dedicated node is usually easier to configure.

What authentication methods does the HTTP Request node support?

Can the HTTP Request node handle pagination for large API responses?

How do you handle errors and retries with the HTTP Request node?

Can the HTTP Request node send and receive files?

How it works

We work hand-in-hand with you to implement HTTP Request

As HTTP Request consultants we work with you hand in hand build more efficient and effective operations. Here’s how we will work with you to automate your business and integrate HTTP Request with integrate and automate 800+ tools.

Step 1

Process Audit

We review your systems and identify which APIs need to be connected. For HTTP Request projects, this means documenting the target API’s endpoints, authentication requirements, rate limits, request/response formats, and any pagination patterns. We also check API documentation quality and test connectivity from your n8n instance.

Step 2

Identify Automation Opportunities

We map specific business tasks to API calls. Each manual process that involves logging into a web platform, looking up data, or copying information between systems is a candidate for an HTTP Request-based automation. We prioritise by frequency and time cost: tasks done daily with multiple API calls per execution get the highest priority.

Step 3

Design Workflows

We design the n8n workflow with HTTP Request nodes configured for each API interaction. This includes specifying the HTTP method, URL, authentication, headers, query parameters, and request body for each call. We also design pagination handling, error management, and data transformation between the API response format and your target system’s input format.

Step 4

Implementation

We build the HTTP Request nodes in n8n, configure credentials using n8n’s credential store, set up request parameters, and connect the nodes into the workflow. Each API call is tested individually first, then as part of the full workflow chain. Retry logic and error handling branches are configured for production reliability.

Step 5

Quality Assurance Review

We test the workflow against the live API with real data, checking that requests are formatted correctly, responses are parsed accurately, authentication works reliably, pagination retrieves complete datasets, and error handling catches and manages API failures. Rate limiting behaviour is also verified to ensure the workflow doesn’t exceed API quotas.

Step 6

Support and Maintenance

APIs change over time: endpoints get deprecated, authentication methods update, and response formats evolve. We monitor the workflow for failures caused by API changes and update the HTTP Request node configuration accordingly. We also adjust request patterns if the target API changes its rate limits or pagination approach.

Transform your business with HTTP Request

Unlock hidden efficiencies, reduce errors, and position your business for scalable growth. Contact us to arrange a no-obligation HTTP Request consultation.

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