n8n is a platform for building automations as a chain of connected nodes. A trigger node starts a run, for example a webhook, a schedule or a new row in a sheet, and later nodes call services through their API, transform data, branch on conditions or run code. It also has nodes for working with language models, so it is commonly used for AI automation and simple agent setups.
A notable feature is that it can be self-hosted as well as used as a hosted service, which appeals to teams that want control over where their data runs. It is source-available under its own license rather than a standard open-source one, so check the license terms for your use.
Like any automation tool, reliability comes from your design: set up error handling and retry logic, keep steps idempotency-safe and watch for a race condition when workflows run at the same time.
Related: Workflow Automation, Workflow, AI Agent.