Agent skill · n8n
n8n Expressions skill for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor
Officialname: n8n-expressions-official★ 553 (repo)pushed 2026-10-17Apache-2.0SKILL.md on GitHubchecked 2026-11-07
What it does, in the publisher's words
Use when writing or reviewing n8n expressions (`{{...}}` syntax), `$json` / `$node` references, Luxon date code, or expression errors. Triggers on `{{}}`, `$json`, `$node`, `$input`, `DateTime`, `Luxon`, "expression error", "evaluating", "format date", "transform field", or any node-parameter assignment.
The description field of the SKILL.md. The agent reads only this at startup and decides from it when to load the full skill.
Install n8n Expressions
The skills CLI copies the skill into the folder of each agent you pick (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf...). Add -g for all projects. Needs Node.js 22.20+. docs
npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official
This repo is a plugin marketplace. Inside Claude Code, add it and install the plugin that holds the skill (n8n-skills), or copy only this skill into ~/.claude/skills. docs
/plugin marketplace add n8n-io/skills /plugin install <plugin>@n8n-io # or only this skill: npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official -a claude-code
Download the skill folder, zip it, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Code execution must be on (Settings > Capabilities). docs
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/n8n-io/skills.git /tmp/n8n-expressions-official-src cp -r /tmp/n8n-expressions-official-src/skills/n8n-expressions-official ./n8n-expressions-official zip -r n8n-expressions-official.zip n8n-expressions-official
Codex reads skills from .agents/skills in the repo or ~/.agents/skills. Type $ in Codex to use one. docs
npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official -a codex
gh skill (GitHub CLI 2.90+, preview) installs it for Copilot in VS Code, the CLI and the cloud agent. Copilot also reads .github/skills and ~/.copilot/skills. docs
gh skill install n8n-io/skills n8n-expressions-official
Cursor reads .cursor/skills, .agents/skills and ~/.cursor/skills (and .claude/skills). It does not install loose skills from a GitHub URL, so copy it in. docs
npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official -a cursor
Installs from the GitHub repo; --path picks this skill out of the repo. Default scope is user (all projects). docs
gemini skills install https://github.com/n8n-io/skills.git --path skills/n8n-expressions-official
OpenCode reads .opencode/skills, ~/.config/opencode/skills and the Claude and .agents folders. docs
npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official -a opencode
Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) reads .devin/skills, .windsurf/skills and ~/.codeium/windsurf/skills. docs
npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official -a windsurf
Works with
Claude Code, Claude.ai and Claude Desktop, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and other agents that read the open Agent Skills format.
What's in the SKILL.md
- Non-negotiable
- Strong defaults
- Why reference by node name ($('Name').item.json.x) over $json.x
- The Set-node antipattern
- Quick test for whether a Set node is needed
- What expressions can do
- Single-field transformation
- Method chains: .map(), .filter(), .find(), .reduce()
- Conditionals
- Date math (Luxon)
- Cross-node references (preferred over $json)
- Multi-line logic with an IIFE arrow function
- Native JS available
- Useful idioms
- Default value when a field might be missing
- Embedding JSON in a text field: which serializer
- JSON.stringify and JSON.parse: where they belong
- Returning the right type: when to wrap in ={{ ... }}
- Multi-line expression with explanatory comment
- What expressions CAN'T do
- Decision: expression, Edit Fields, or Code node?
- The "extra node" smell
- Anti-patterns
Facts
- Skill name
- n8n-expressions-official
- Publisher
- n8n (official)
- Repo
- n8n-io/skills
- License
- Apache-2.0
- SKILL.md size
- 2,423 words, 410 lines
- Repo stars
- 553 (as of 2026-10-24)
- SKILL.md checked
- 2026-11-07
Pairs with the n8n MCP server: the server gives the agent the tools, the skill teaches it how to use them.
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FAQ
What does the n8n-expressions-official skill do?+
Writes and fixes n8n workflow expressions, node references and Luxon date code. In its own SKILL.md, n8n describes it as: "Use when writing or reviewing n8n expressions (`{{...}}` syntax), `$json` / `$node` references, Luxon date code, or expression errors."
How do I install the n8n-expressions-official skill?+
Run npx skills add n8n-io/skills --skill n8n-expressions-official and pick your agents, or use the tab for your agent above. In Claude Code the skill ends up in ~/.claude/skills/n8n-expressions-official/SKILL.md; in Codex and Cursor in .agents/skills/n8n-expressions-official/.
Does n8n Expressions work in Codex, Cursor and Copilot, or only Claude?+
It's a standard SKILL.md, so any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use it: Claude Code, the Claude apps, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and more.
Who maintains n8n Expressions?+
n8n, the company or project behind it, in the n8n-io/skills repo on GitHub, last pushed 2026-10-17. License: Apache-2.0.
Read a skill's SKILL.md and scripts before you install it: skills aren't verified by any agent vendor. Claude skills marketplace · How to install skills · MCP servers