# n8n If and Switch Nodes: Route Requests by Rules > A visual guide to n8n If and Switch nodes: split big jobs from small ones with one condition, then route by service with named outputs and a fallback. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/n8n-if-and-switch-nodes-route-by-rules · Updated 2026-10-11 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [Step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual#format-steps-carousel) · 7 slides · [n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n) By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 11, 2026 · From the free lesson [IF and Switch in n8n: Route Work by Rules](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial) A visual guide to n8n If and Switch nodes: split big jobs from small ones with one condition, then route by service with named outputs and a fallback. Swipe or scroll sideways for all 7 slides. The whole guide is written out below. ## The guide in text A service-request form, an email to the owner and a request log. If for yes or no, Switch for more than two roads. ## Step by step 1. ### Send a test request first Click Execute workflow and fill in the test form like a customer: a service and a budget of 2500. You need real data to route. 2. ### If: Budget is greater than 1000 Drag Budget into value 1. n8n sees a number and switches the comparison to Number. Choose is greater than and type 1000 in value 2. 3. ### Check which branch it took Execute step shows True Branch (1 item), because 2500 is more than 1000. Each item takes one branch or the other, never both. True goes to the owner’s email, false to the log. 4. ### Switch: name outputs, keep a fallback In Rules mode, each rule gets its own output: Repair, Emergency. Under Options, add Fallback Output and choose Extra Output, or items that match no rule are dropped. 5. ### Wire every road, then Publish Repair goes on to the If, Emergency to the owner, Fallback to the log. If a number arrives as text, switch on Convert types where required. Businesses and people in the examples are made up (Harbor Point is a made-up business). The steps, screens and wording come from the free lesson and the Stepthrough glossary and prompt library. ## Do it yourself, free **IF and Switch in n8n: Route Work by Rules**. Send each request where it belongs. Use an If node to split big jobs from small ones, then a Switch with named outputs and a fallback to route by service. 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-if-switch) [Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial) ## Related terms Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson. [IF node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/if-node) · [Switch node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/switch-node) · [Publishing a workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/publish-workflow) · [Fallback output](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/fallback-output) · [True and false branches](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/true-and-false-branches) · [Pinned data](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/pinned-data) [The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) ## Related prompts - [Request routing rules prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/routing-rules-plain-words-prompt): Write down who should get which request before you build it in n8n: the condition for each route, the exit names and a fallback… [All free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts) ## From the blog - [How to Route Client Requests: AI Form, Agent or Rules](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/route-client-requests-with-ai-form-agent-or-rules): Route client requests with AI: collect clean details with a form, route by rules with n8n If and Switch, test, publish, and keep an agent for questions. ## More visual guides - [n8n Talk to Your Google Sheet: 4 Steps and One Check](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/n8n-talk-to-your-google-sheet-4-steps-and-a-check): A visual guide to n8n’s chat-with-your-sheet template: add your OpenAI credential, point it at your sheet, ask questions and check every total by hand. - [n8n Webhook: Test URL vs Production URL, Explained](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/n8n-test-url-vs-production-url-webhook): A visual guide to the two n8n webhook addresses: the Test URL that listens only while you test, and the Production URL that works once you publish. - [Email each tech their jobs at 7am with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/job-alerts-n8n): Every morning someone at Rapid Flow Plumbing copies the day's jobs into emails, one tech at a time. Hand it to n8n. [All visual guides](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual) · [All free tutorials](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content)