🚀 n8n Set Node Ultimate Guide: Detailed Explanation & 10 Powerful Use Cases for Data Handling

D: The Set node in n8n is one of the most versatile tools for manipulating, transforming, and restructuring data in your workflows. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, mastering this node can significantly enhance your automation capabilities.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore:
✔ What the Set Node Does
✔ Key Features & Configuration Options
✔ 10 Practical Use Cases (with examples!)
✔ Pro Tips & Best Practices

Let’s dive in! 🏊‍♂️

🔍 What is the Set Node?

The Set node allows you to:
✅ Add new fields to your data
✅ Modify existing values
✅ Delete unwanted fields
✅ Restructure JSON objects

It’s like a Swiss Army knife 🛠 for data transformation in n8n!

⚙️ How to Configure the Set Node

When you add a Set node, you’ll see these key options:

1. Mode (Choose how data is modified)

• “Set” → Overwrites or adds new fields
• “Remove” → Deletes specified fields
• “Keep Only” → Keeps only selected fields

2. Value Type (How to assign data)

• “String” → Plain text
• “Number” → Numeric values
• “Boolean” → True/False
• “JSON” → Structured data

3. Include in Output

• Toggle whether to pass modified data forward

🎯 10 Powerful Use Cases for the Set Node

1. Adding Timestamps to Records

📌 Use Case: Automatically log when a record is processed.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "timestamp": "={{ $now.toISOString() }}"
}

2. Renaming Fields for API Compatibility

📌 Use Case: Adjust field names before sending to another service.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "user_id": "={{ $input.item.id }}",
  "email_address": "={{ $input.item.email }}"
}

3. Combining Multiple Fields

📌 Use Case: Merge first & last names into a full name.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "full_name": "={{ $input.item.first_name }} {{ $input.item.last_name }}"
}

4. Removing Sensitive Data

📌 Use Case: Strip out passwords before logging.
⚙️ Mode: “Remove”
⚙️ Fields: ["password", "credit_card"]

5. Setting Default Values

📌 Use Case: Ensure a field always has a fallback value.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "status": "={{ $input.item.status || 'pending' }}"
}

6. Converting Data Types

📌 Use Case: Change a string to a number for calculations.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "price": "={{ Number($input.item.price_str) }}"
}

7. Flattening Nested JSON

📌 Use Case: Simplify complex API responses.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "user_name": "={{ $input.item.user.profile.name }}",
  "user_email": "={{ $input.item.user.contact.email }}"
}

8. Conditional Field Assignment

📌 Use Case: Apply discounts only if eligible.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "discount_price": "={{ $input.item.is_member ? $input.item.price * 0.9 : $input.item.price }}"
}

9. Creating Arrays from Strings

📌 Use Case: Split tags into an array.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "tags": "={{ $input.item.tags_str.split(',') }}"
}

10. Generating Custom IDs

📌 Use Case: Create unique identifiers.
⚙️ Setup:

{
  "custom_id": "={{ 'CUST-' + $input.item.id + '-' + Date.now() }}"
}

💡 Pro Tips for Using the Set Node

🔹 Use JavaScript expressions (={{ ... }}) for dynamic values.
🔹 Chain multiple Set nodes for complex transformations.
🔹 Test with sample data before full execution.
🔹 Combine with Function nodes for advanced logic.

� Conclusion

The Set node is a game-changer for data manipulation in n8n. Whether you’re cleaning data, reformatting API responses, or adding metadata, mastering this tool will make your workflows more efficient and flexible.

💬 Got questions? Drop them in the comments!
🔄 Found this useful? Share with fellow automators!

Happy automating! 🤖✨

🔗 Further Reading:

• n8n Official Docs on Set Node
• Advanced JavaScript for n8n

Would you like a deep dive into any specific use case? Let me know! 🚀