# n8n for beginners: triggers, nodes, items, expressions and the Execute buttons on one page > A free one-page n8n beginner cheat sheet: what n8n is, triggers vs actions, items and JSON, expressions, test vs production, schedules, forms and costs. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/n8n-beginner · Updated 2026-10-17 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [Tool cheat sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets#kind-tool) · One page · US letter · [n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n) By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 17, 2026 · From the free lesson [n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-tutorial-for-beginners-first-workflow) A free one-page n8n beginner cheat sheet: what n8n is, triggers vs actions, items and JSON, expressions, test vs production, schedules, forms and costs. [Download the free PDF (76 KB)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/n8n-beginner.pdf)Print this sheet Free, no sign-up and no email needed. It prints on one letter-size page; the whole sheet is below. *▶*StepthroughFree printable cheat sheet · learn.ynteractive.com n8n for beginners: triggers, nodes, items, expressions and the Execute buttons on one page How n8n thinks and the buttons you use every day, from the free n8n for Beginners course. ## How n8n thinks **Workflow** A chain of steps (**nodes**) that n8n runs the same way every time. **Trigger** The first node: what starts it. **Trigger manually**, **On a schedule**, **On form submission**, **On webhook call**, **On app event**. **Action** Every node after the trigger: Edit Fields, Google Sheets, Gmail, OpenAI, If, Switch. **Item** One record. Most nodes run once per item: 5 in, 5 out. ## Data and expressions **Output views** **Schema**, **Table** and **JSON** show the same items three ways. **set mock data** Paste test JSON on a node's OUTPUT. It is pinned for test runs. **Expression** `{{ $json.client }}` = this item's client. Drag a field from INPUT to make one. **Earlier node** `{{ $('Node name').item.json.from }}`: drag from that node in INPUT. **Number field** Switch the value to **Expression** before typing a formula. Round with `.round(2)`. ## Test vs production **Execute step** Runs one node, using the data before it. **Execute** The button under the canvas: runs the whole workflow once, as a test. **Test URL** Forms and webhooks: listens only while you test in the editor. **Publish** Turns the workflow on. The **Production URL** and schedules only work after it. ## Where it runs and what it costs (Oct 2026) - **n8n Cloud**: free trial, no card. Starter $20 a month billed annually for 2,500 runs; Pro $50 for 10,000. - **Self-hosted Community Edition**: free software, you run and update the server. - n8n counts a whole workflow run as one execution, however many steps it has. - Apps you connect (OpenAI, for example) bill you separately for what you use. **Remember:** Build with test data, check where the result lands, then Publish. Keep keys in credentials, never in fields. Practice it free: [n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/n8n-what-is-n8n-first-workflow) at learn.ynteractive.com/modules/n8n-what-is-n8n-first-workflow. This sheet: learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/n8n-beginner. Clearview Bookkeeping is a made-up business from the lesson. By Robert Breen, October 17, 2026. ## Practice it in the free lesson **n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow**. What n8n is and how it thinks, then your first workflow: a client inquiry form that catches every request and writes a one-line summary. No code, no accounts to connect. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of n8n, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts. [Start the free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/n8n-what-is-n8n-first-workflow) [Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-tutorial-for-beginners-first-workflow) ## Lessons on this sheet - [n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-tutorial-for-beginners-first-workflow): What n8n is and how it thinks, then your first workflow: a client inquiry form that catches every request and writes a one-line summary. No code, no accounts to connect. - [n8n: Items, JSON and Expressions, Explained by Doing](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-items-json-expressions-tutorial): See how n8n holds data: pin five fake invoices, read them as items, Table and JSON, then write one reminder per invoice and a late fee with drag-and-drop expressions. - [n8n: Execute Step, Execute Workflow and Publish](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-execute-step-execute-workflow-publish): Learn the buttons in today's n8n editor: run one node with Execute step, pin test data, run everything with Execute workflow, then Publish and copy the Production URL. - [n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-schedule-trigger-tutorial): Use the n8n Schedule Trigger to run a workflow by itself: every Monday at 8am, a timesheet reminder. Set the interval, test it now, and check the time zone. - [n8n: Send Form Answers Straight to Google Sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-form-to-google-sheets): Build a consultation request form in n8n (required fields, email, dropdown), test it, and add every answer as a new row in Google Sheets. No webhook, no form tool to… - [n8n: Summarize Customer Emails with OpenAI](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-openai-summarize-emails): Your first AI step in n8n: send each customer email to OpenAI with one prompt and get a one-line summary plus the next step. No agent needed, about a cent of API use. ## Related terms Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson. [Workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/workflow) · [Trigger](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/trigger) · [Node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/node) · [Item (n8n)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/item) · [Expression](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/expression) · [Pinned data](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/pinned-data) · [Credential](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/credential) · [Test URL vs production URL](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/webhook-test-url-vs-production-url) [The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) ## More cheat sheets - [ChatGPT at Work Cheat Sheet: Facts, Format, Privacy](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/chatgpt-at-work): A free one-page cheat sheet for ChatGPT at work: give it facts, set the format and length, check every promise and keep private data out. - [n8n Basics Cheat Sheet: Triggers, Items, Webhooks](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/n8n-basics): A free one-page cheat sheet of n8n basics: triggers, expressions, items, executions, the workflow timezone and webhook test vs production URLs. - [n8n Intermediate Cheat Sheet: APIs, Webhooks, Errors](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/n8n-intermediate): A free one-page n8n intermediate cheat sheet: HTTP Request settings, GET vs POST, webhook URLs, expressions, items, AI approval and error handling. 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