# What does the Split Out node do in n8n? > The n8n Split Out node turns one item that holds a list into separate items, one per entry, so each can become its own sheet row or email. With an example. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/split-out-node · Updated 2026-10-17 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [n8n and automation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary#topic-n8n-and-automation) · [AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) Quick answer The Split Out node in n8n takes one [item](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/item) that contains a list and turns it into separate items, one for each entry in the list. Every step after it then runs once per entry, so a list of seven tasks can become seven sheet rows or seven emails. Last updated October 17, 2026 [Take the free module →](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/ai-for-operations/12)Module 12 of the free [AI for Operations Teams](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/ai-for-operations) course, about 15 minutes. No account needed. Updated October 17, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) ## Why it matters for a small business This comes up the moment you ask AI for more than one thing. You ask a model for every action item in a meeting, and it answers with one block that holds a list. A spreadsheet wants one row per task, and a Gmail step wants one email per person. Split Out is the bridge between "one answer" and "many records". The business payoff is that nothing gets lumped together. Each task keeps its own owner and due date, so nobody has to untangle a pasted paragraph into rows by hand on Friday afternoon. ## In a real lesson: n8n: Turn Meeting Notes into Action Items in a Google Sheet In the [meeting notes to action items lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/meeting-notes-to-action-items-google-sheets-ai-n8n), Meridian Accounting Group, a made-up firm, keeps meeting notes in a Google Sheet. OpenAI reads two meetings and returns the tasks as JSON, but each meeting is still one item holding a list. You add **Split Out** and type the path **output[0].content[0].text.tasks** in **Fields To Split Out**, with **Include** left on **No Other Fields**. [Execute step](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/execute-step) returns seven items, each with task, owner and due, and **Append row in sheet** writes seven rows to Action Items. [Try this lesson free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/n8n-meeting-notes-tasks) or [read the step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/meeting-notes-to-action-items-google-sheets-ai-n8n). ## How AI helps AI and Split Out work as a pair. The trick the lesson teaches is to ask the model for JSON in a fixed shape, such as a tasks list with task, owner and due, and set its output format to JSON so n8n opens the answer into a real list. Then Split Out has something clean to split. Build it in the [meeting notes lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/meeting-notes-to-action-items-google-sheets-ai-n8n), and read the AI's tasks before you rely on them. ## Common confusions ### Split Out vs Loop Over Items Split Out makes separate items from a list. Loop Over Items sends items through in small batches. Most n8n nodes already run once per item, so you rarely need a loop after Split Out. ### Split Out vs Aggregate Aggregate does the opposite: it gathers many items back into one, for example to send a single summary email. ## Tips - Copy the list's path from the OUTPUT panel instead of typing it from memory. - Check the item count after Split Out against what you expect before anything writes to a sheet. ## Related terms [Item (n8n)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/item) · [JSON](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/json) · [Structured output](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/structured-output) · [Append row](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/append-row) · [Execute workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/execute-workflow) · [Publishing a workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/publish-workflow) ## More n8n and automation terms [Switch node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/switch-node) · [Test data](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/test-data) · [Test step](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/test-step) · [Test URL vs production URL](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/webhook-test-url-vs-production-url) ## Where you use it: free lessons - [n8n: Turn Meeting Notes into Action Items in a Google Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/meeting-notes-to-action-items-google-sheets-ai-n8n) (n8n, 15 min) - [Litescrape in n8n: Swap SerpApi for a Cheaper Search API](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/litescrape-n8n-serpapi-alternative) (n8n, 7 min) ## Frequently asked questions **What does Split Out mean in n8n?** It means turning one item that holds a list into one item per list entry, so later steps handle each entry on its own. **What do I put in Fields To Split Out?** The name or path of the field that holds the list. In the meeting notes lesson it is output[0].content[0].text.tasks. **Why does Split Out return only one item?** Usually the field is text, not a real list, or the path is wrong. Ask the AI step for JSON output and copy the path from the OUTPUT panel. [All AI glossary terms, A to Z](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) · [Free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts)