Execution
In n8n, an execution is one run of a workflow. It can be started manually during testing or automatically in production through a trigger, schedule, or polling.
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Source content checked . English translation published 2026-10-27.
In business automation
An execution is a specific instance of a workflow with an input and a result. Tracking executions helps determine whether a failure is related to particular data, an external service, or a workflow change.
Examples
These examples illustrate a possible workflow. Adapt the connections and rules to your own systems.
Business process example
A customer reports that they did not receive a message. The team finds the execution by the inquiry ID, checks whether the send action ran and what it returned, and only then decides whether to send again.
Relevant tools
- n8n
- Execution history helps investigate inputs and outputs; the retention period depends on the environment settings.
What to check
- Running a workflow again can repeat actions that already succeeded. Check where it failed and what has already been saved in the systems.