---
description: A node is an entry point for retrieving data, a function to process data, or an exit for sending data.
contentType: howto
---
# Nodes
[Nodes](/glossary.md#node-n8n) are the key building blocks of a [workflow](/glossary.md#workflow-n8n). They perform a range of actions, including:
* Starting the workflow.
* Fetching and sending data.
* Processing and manipulating data.
n8n provides a collection of built-in nodes, as well as the ability to create your own nodes. Refer to:
* [Built-in integrations](/integrations/builtin/node-types.md) to browse the node library.
* [Community nodes](/integrations/community-nodes/installation/index.md) for guidance on finding and installing community-created nodes.
* [Creating nodes](/integrations/creating-nodes/overview.md) to start building your own nodes.
## Add a node to your workflow
### Add a node to an empty workflow
1. Select **Add first step**. n8n opens the nodes panel, where you can search or browse [trigger nodes](/glossary.md#trigger-node-n8n).
2. Select the trigger you want to use.
/// note | Choose the correct app event
If you select **On App Event**, n8n shows a list of all the supported services. Use this list to browse n8n's integrations and trigger a workflow in response to an event in your chosen service. Not all integrations have triggers. To see which ones you can use as a trigger, select the node. If a trigger is available, you'll see it at the top of the available operations list.
For example, this is the trigger for Asana:
///
### Add a node to an existing workflow
Select the **Add node** {.off-glb} connector. n8n opens the nodes panel, where you can search or browse all nodes.
--8<-- "_snippets/integrations/builtin/node-operations.md"
## Node controls
To view node controls, hover over the node on the canvas:
* **Execute step** {.off-glb}: Run the node.
* **Deactivate** {.off-glb}: Deactivate the node.
* **Delete** {.off-glb}: Delete the node.
* **Node context menu** {.off-glb}: Select node actions. Available actions:
* Open node
* Execute step
* Rename node
* Deactivate node
* Pin node
* Copy node
* Duplicate node
* Tidy up workflow
* Convert node to sub-workflow
* Select all
* Clear selection
* Delete node
## Node settings
The node settings under the **Settings** tab allow you to control node behaviors and add node notes.
When active or set, they do the following:
* **Always Output Data**: The node returns an empty item even if the node returns no data during execution. Be careful setting this on IF nodes, as it could cause an infinite loop.
* **Execute Once**: The node executes once, with data from the first item it receives. It doesn't process any extra items.
* **Retry On Fail**: When an execution fails, the node reruns until it succeeds.
* **On Error**:
- **Stop Workflow**: Halts the entire workflow when an error occurs, preventing further node execution.
- **Continue**: Proceeds to the next node despite the error, using the last valid data.
- **Continue (using error output)**: Continues workflow execution, passing error information to the next node for potential handling.
* **Custom Telemetry Tags**: Add custom key-value pairs to a node's OpenTelemetry span. Keys are plain text, values support expressions, and this setting only appears when you enable OpenTelemetry tracing. Refer to [Add custom attributes to node spans](/hosting/logging-monitoring/opentelemetry.md#add-custom-attributes-to-node-spans) for details.
You can document your workflow using node notes:
* **Notes**: Note to save with the node.
* **Display note in flow**: If active, n8n displays the note in the workflow as a subtitle.