Switch consultants

Q: What does the Switch node do in n8n?

The Switch node reads a specified field from each incoming data item and routes that item to one of several output branches based on its value. Each output branch is configured with a matching rule (exact value, regex pattern, or numeric comparison). Items that don't match any rule go to a fallback output. It's the node you use for multi-way routing decisions.

Q: How is the Switch node different from the If node?

The If node has two outputs: true and false. It handles binary decisions. The Switch node has multiple outputs (typically four, but configurable), each with its own matching condition. Use If when you're asking a yes/no question. Use Switch when you need to route to three or more different paths based on distinct values of the same field.

Q: What types of matching does the Switch node support?

The Switch node supports exact string matching (value equals 'billing'), regex pattern matching (value matches '^URGENT-'), numeric comparisons (value greater than 100), and boolean checks. You can set different match types for different outputs. In newer n8n versions, the Switch node also supports expression-based rules for more complex matching logic.

Q: What happens to items that don't match any Switch rule?

Items that don't match any configured rule are sent to the fallback (default) output. This ensures no data items are silently lost. It's important to connect the fallback output to a processing node or NoOp node so you can handle unexpected values, log them for review, or at least confirm they exist.

Q: Can I chain multiple Switch nodes together for complex routing?

Yes. You can connect one Switch node's output to another Switch node for hierarchical routing. For example, the first Switch routes by department, and then a second Switch on the 'engineering' branch routes by issue severity. This creates a decision tree that handles complex routing scenarios while keeping each individual node simple and readable.

Q: How many output branches can a Switch node have?

The default Switch node configuration supports up to four named outputs plus a fallback output. In recent n8n versions, you can add more outputs as needed. If you need many more branches (say, routing to 20 different categories), consider using the output routing mode where each output is defined by rules rather than a fixed number of branches.

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

Get in touch

Book a call

About Switch

The Switch node in n8n routes data items to different output branches based on the value of a field. While the If node handles binary yes/no decisions, the Switch node handles multi-way routing: send items down one of several paths depending on which value a field contains. Think of it as a multi-lane roundabout instead of a T-junction.

A typical use case: incoming support tickets have a “category” field that could be “billing,” “technical,” “general,” or “urgent.” The Switch node reads that field and sends each ticket to the branch that handles its category. Billing tickets go to the finance workflow, technical tickets get escalated to engineering, general enquiries go to the standard response queue, and urgent tickets trigger an immediate alert.

The Switch node supports matching on exact values, regex patterns, and numeric ranges. You configure up to four named outputs (or more in recent n8n versions), each with its own matching rules. Items that don’t match any rule go to a fallback output, so nothing gets silently dropped. It processes each item independently, so a batch of records can split across multiple output branches in a single execution.

At Osher, we use the Switch node whenever a workflow needs to route data to more than two destinations. Our talent marketplace application processing used Switch nodes to route candidates to different evaluation pipelines based on role type. It’s a standard component in our business automation and RPA projects wherever multi-path routing is required.

If your automation needs to sort items into multiple categories or route data to different systems based on type, talk to our n8n team about using the Switch node.

Switch FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how Switch consultants can help with integration and implementation

What does the Switch node do in n8n?

How is the Switch node different from the If node?

What types of matching does the Switch node support?

What happens to items that don’t match any Switch rule?

Can I chain multiple Switch nodes together for complex routing?

How many output branches can a Switch node have?

How it works

We work hand-in-hand with you to implement Switch

As Switch 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 Switch with integrate and automate 800+ tools.

Step 1

Process Audit

We review your business process to identify every multi-way routing decision. For Switch node planning, this means documenting the field being evaluated, all possible values that field can contain, and what processing should happen for each value. We also identify whether any values can be grouped together to reduce the number of required output branches.

Step 2

Identify Automation Opportunities

We determine which routing decisions can be fully automated based on data values versus which ones need human review. Clear categorical data (department names, status values, product types) works well for Switch node routing. Fields with many possible values or ambiguous categories may need AI-assisted classification before they reach the Switch node.

Step 3

Design Workflows

We design the Switch node configuration with named outputs for each routing category, define the matching rules for each output, and plan what processing happens on each branch. We also design the fallback handling for items that don’t match any rule, ensuring they’re logged or flagged for review rather than silently dropped.

Step 4

Implementation

We configure the Switch node in n8n with the correct field reference, matching rules for each output, and descriptive output labels. Each branch is connected to its downstream processing nodes. We test with sample data that covers all expected values plus some unexpected ones to verify that routing and fallback handling work correctly.

Step 5

Quality Assurance Review

We test the Switch node with data covering every expected value, edge cases (empty strings, null values, values with unexpected casing or whitespace), and values that should hit the fallback output. We verify that each item routes to the correct branch and that the downstream processing on each branch produces the expected result.

Step 6

Support and Maintenance

When your business adds new categories, statuses, or routing criteria, we add new output branches to the Switch node or update existing matching rules. We also review execution logs periodically to check how often items hit the fallback output, which may indicate new values in the data that need dedicated routing branches.

Transform your business with Switch

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

Get in touch

Book a call