n8n-skills/skills/n8n-validation-expert/ERROR_CATALOG.md

Error Catalog

Comprehensive catalog of n8n validation errors with real examples and fixes.

---

Error Types Overview

Common validation errors by priority:

Error Type	Priority	Severity	Auto-Fix
missing_required	Highest	Error	❌
invalid_value	High	Error	❌
type_mismatch	Medium	Error	❌
invalid_expression	Medium	Error	❌
invalid_reference	Low	Error	❌
operator_structure	Lowest	Warning	✅

---

Errors (Must Fix)

1. missing_required

What it means: Required field is not provided in node configuration

When it occurs:

• Creating new nodes without all required fields
• Copying configurations between different operations
• Switching operations that have different requirements

Most common validation error

Example 1: Slack Channel Missing

Error:

{
  "type": "missing_required",
  "property": "channel",
  "message": "Channel name is required",
  "node": "Slack",
  "path": "parameters.channel"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post"
  // Missing: channel
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general"  // ✅ Added required field
}

How to identify required fields:

// Use get_node_essentials to see what's required
const info = get_node_essentials({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"
});
// Check properties marked as "required": true

Example 2: HTTP Request Missing URL

Error:

{
  "type": "missing_required",
  "property": "url",
  "message": "URL is required for HTTP Request",
  "node": "HTTP Request",
  "path": "parameters.url"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "method": "GET",
  "authentication": "none"
  // Missing: url
}

Fix:

{
  "method": "GET",
  "authentication": "none",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/data"  // ✅ Added
}

Example 3: Database Query Missing Connection

Error:

{
  "type": "missing_required",
  "property": "query",
  "message": "SQL query is required",
  "node": "Postgres",
  "path": "parameters.query"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "operation": "executeQuery"
  // Missing: query
}

Fix:

{
  "operation": "executeQuery",
  "query": "SELECT * FROM users WHERE active = true"  // ✅ Added
}

Example 4: Conditional Fields

Error:

{
  "type": "missing_required",
  "property": "body",
  "message": "Request body is required when sendBody is true",
  "node": "HTTP Request",
  "path": "parameters.body"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/create",
  "sendBody": true
  // Missing: body (required when sendBody=true)
}

Fix:

{
  "method": "POST",
  "url": "https://api.example.com/create",
  "sendBody": true,
  "body": {
    "contentType": "json",
    "content": {
      "name": "John",
      "email": "john@example.com"
    }
  }  // ✅ Added conditional required field
}

---

2. invalid_value

What it means: Provided value doesn't match allowed options or format

When it occurs:

• Using wrong enum value
• Typos in operation names
• Invalid format for specialized fields (emails, URLs, channels)

Second most common error

Example 1: Invalid Operation

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_value",
  "property": "operation",
  "message": "Operation must be one of: post, update, delete, get",
  "current": "send",
  "allowed": ["post", "update", "delete", "get"]
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "send"  // ❌ Invalid - should be "post"
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post"  // ✅ Use valid operation
}

Example 2: Invalid HTTP Method

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_value",
  "property": "method",
  "message": "Method must be one of: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS",
  "current": "FETCH",
  "allowed": ["GET", "POST", "PUT", "PATCH", "DELETE", "HEAD", "OPTIONS"]
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "method": "FETCH",  // ❌ Invalid
  "url": "https://api.example.com"
}

Fix:

{
  "method": "GET",  // ✅ Use valid HTTP method
  "url": "https://api.example.com"
}

Example 3: Invalid Channel Format

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_value",
  "property": "channel",
  "message": "Channel name must start with # and be lowercase (e.g., #general)",
  "current": "General"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "General"  // ❌ Wrong format
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general"  // ✅ Correct format
}

Example 4: Invalid Enum with Case Sensitivity

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_value",
  "property": "resource",
  "message": "Resource must be one of: channel, message, user, file",
  "current": "Message",
  "allowed": ["channel", "message", "user", "file"]
}

Note: Enums are case-sensitive!

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "Message",  // ❌ Capital M
  "operation": "post"
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",  // ✅ Lowercase
  "operation": "post"
}

---

3. type_mismatch

What it means: Value is wrong data type (string instead of number, etc.)

When it occurs:

• Hardcoding values that should be numbers
• Using expressions where literals are expected
• JSON serialization issues

Common error

Example 1: String Instead of Number

Error:

{
  "type": "type_mismatch",
  "property": "limit",
  "message": "Expected number, got string",
  "expected": "number",
  "current": "100"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "operation": "executeQuery",
  "query": "SELECT * FROM users",
  "limit": "100"  // ❌ String
}

Fix:

{
  "operation": "executeQuery",
  "query": "SELECT * FROM users",
  "limit": 100  // ✅ Number
}

Example 2: Number Instead of String

Error:

{
  "type": "type_mismatch",
  "property": "channel",
  "message": "Expected string, got number",
  "expected": "string",
  "current": 12345
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": 12345  // ❌ Number (even if channel ID)
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general"  // ✅ String (channel name, not ID)
}

Example 3: Boolean as String

Error:

{
  "type": "type_mismatch",
  "property": "sendHeaders",
  "message": "Expected boolean, got string",
  "expected": "boolean",
  "current": "true"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "method": "GET",
  "url": "https://api.example.com",
  "sendHeaders": "true"  // ❌ String "true"
}

Fix:

{
  "method": "GET",
  "url": "https://api.example.com",
  "sendHeaders": true  // ✅ Boolean true
}

Example 4: Object Instead of Array

Error:

{
  "type": "type_mismatch",
  "property": "tags",
  "message": "Expected array, got object",
  "expected": "array",
  "current": {"tag": "important"}
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "name": "New Channel",
  "tags": {"tag": "important"}  // ❌ Object
}

Fix:

{
  "name": "New Channel",
  "tags": ["important", "alerts"]  // ✅ Array
}

---

4. invalid_expression

What it means: n8n expression has syntax errors or invalid references

When it occurs:

• Missing {{}} around expressions
• Typos in variable names
• Referencing non-existent nodes or fields
• Invalid JavaScript syntax in expressions

Moderately common

Related: See n8n Expression Syntax skill for comprehensive expression guidance

Example 1: Missing Curly Braces

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_expression",
  "property": "text",
  "message": "Expressions must be wrapped in {{}}",
  "current": "$json.name"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general",
  "text": "$json.name"  // ❌ Missing {{}}
}

Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#general",
  "text": "={{$json.name}}"  // ✅ Wrapped in {{}}
}

Example 2: Invalid Node Reference

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_expression",
  "property": "value",
  "message": "Referenced node 'HTTP Requets' does not exist",
  "current": "={{$node['HTTP Requets'].json.data}}"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "field": "data",
  "value": "={{$node['HTTP Requets'].json.data}}"  // ❌ Typo in node name
}

Fix:

{
  "field": "data",
  "value": "={{$node['HTTP Request'].json.data}}"  // ✅ Correct node name
}

Example 3: Invalid Property Access

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_expression",
  "property": "text",
  "message": "Cannot access property 'user' of undefined",
  "current": "={{$json.data.user.name}}"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "text": "={{$json.data.user.name}}"  // ❌ Structure doesn't exist
}

Fix (with safe navigation):

{
  "text": "={{$json.data?.user?.name || 'Unknown'}}"  // ✅ Safe navigation + fallback
}

Example 4: Webhook Data Access Error

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_expression",
  "property": "value",
  "message": "Property 'email' not found in $json",
  "current": "={{$json.email}}"
}

Common Gotcha: Webhook data is under .body!

Broken Configuration:

{
  "field": "email",
  "value": "={{$json.email}}"  // ❌ Missing .body
}

Fix:

{
  "field": "email",
  "value": "={{$json.body.email}}"  // ✅ Webhook data under .body
}

---

5. invalid_reference

What it means: Configuration references a node that doesn't exist in the workflow

When it occurs:

• Node was renamed or deleted
• Typo in node name
• Copy-pasting from another workflow

Less common error

Example 1: Deleted Node Reference

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_reference",
  "property": "expression",
  "message": "Node 'Transform Data' does not exist in workflow",
  "referenced_node": "Transform Data"
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "value": "={{$node['Transform Data'].json.result}}"  // ❌ Node deleted
}

Fix:

// Option 1: Update to existing node
{
  "value": "={{$node['Set'].json.result}}"
}

// Option 2: Remove expression if not needed
{
  "value": "default_value"
}

Example 2: Connection to Non-Existent Node

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_reference",
  "message": "Connection references node 'Slack1' which does not exist",
  "source": "HTTP Request",
  "target": "Slack1"
}

Fix: Use cleanStaleConnections operation:

n8n_update_partial_workflow({
  id: "workflow-id",
  operations: [{
    type: "cleanStaleConnections"
  }]
})

Example 3: Renamed Node Not Updated

Error:

{
  "type": "invalid_reference",
  "property": "expression",
  "message": "Node 'Get Weather' does not exist (did you mean 'Weather API'?)",
  "referenced_node": "Get Weather",
  "suggestions": ["Weather API"]
}

Broken Configuration:

{
  "value": "={{$node['Get Weather'].json.temperature}}"  // ❌ Old name
}

Fix:

{
  "value": "={{$node['Weather API'].json.temperature}}"  // ✅ Current name
}

---

Warnings (Should Fix)

6. best_practice

What it means: Configuration works but doesn't follow best practices

Severity: Warning (doesn't block execution)

When acceptable: Development, testing, simple workflows

When to fix: Production workflows, critical operations

Example 1: Missing Error Handling

Warning:

{
  "type": "best_practice",
  "property": "onError",
  "message": "Slack API can have rate limits and connection issues",
  "suggestion": "Add error handling: onError: 'continueRegularOutput'"
}

Current Configuration:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#alerts"
  // No error handling ⚠️
}

Recommended Fix:

{
  "resource": "message",
  "operation": "post",
  "channel": "#alerts",
  "continueOnFail": true,
  "retryOnFail": true,
  "maxTries": 3
}

Example 2: No Retry Logic

Warning:

{
  "type": "best_practice",
  "property": "retryOnFail",
  "message": "External API calls should retry on failure",
  "suggestion": "Add retryOnFail: true, maxTries: 3, waitBetweenTries: 1000"
}

When to ignore: Idempotent operations, APIs with their own retry logic

When to fix: Flaky external services, production automation

---

7. deprecated

What it means: Using old API version or deprecated feature

Severity: Warning (still works but may stop working in future)

When to fix: Always (eventually)

Example 1: Old typeVersion

Warning:

{
  "type": "deprecated",
  "property": "typeVersion",
  "message": "typeVersion 1 is deprecated for Slack node, use version 2",
  "current": 1,
  "recommended": 2
}

Fix:

{
  "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
  "typeVersion": 2,  // ✅ Updated
  // May need to update configuration for new version
}

---

8. performance

What it means: Configuration may cause performance issues

Severity: Warning

When to fix: High-volume workflows, large datasets

Example 1: Unbounded Query

Warning:

{
  "type": "performance",
  "property": "query",
  "message": "SELECT without LIMIT can return massive datasets",
  "suggestion": "Add LIMIT clause or use pagination"
}

Current:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE active = true

Fix:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE active = true LIMIT 1000

---

Auto-Sanitization Fixes

9. operator_structure

What it means: IF/Switch operator structure issues

Severity: Warning

Auto-Fix: ✅ YES - Fixed automatically on workflow save

Rare (mostly auto-fixed)

Fixed Automatically: Binary Operators

Before (you create this):

{
  "type": "boolean",
  "operation": "equals",
  "singleValue": true  // ❌ Wrong for binary operator
}

After (auto-sanitization fixes it):

{
  "type": "boolean",
  "operation": "equals"
  // singleValue removed ✅
}

You don't need to do anything - this is fixed on save!

Fixed Automatically: Unary Operators

Before:

{
  "type": "boolean",
  "operation": "isEmpty"
  // Missing singleValue ❌
}

After:

{
  "type": "boolean",
  "operation": "isEmpty",
  "singleValue": true  // ✅ Added automatically
}

What you should do: Trust auto-sanitization, don't manually fix these!

---

Recovery Patterns

Pattern 1: Progressive Validation

Problem: Too many errors at once

Solution:

// Step 1: Minimal valid config
let config = {
  resource: "message",
  operation: "post",
  channel: "#general",
  text: "Hello"
};

validate_node_operation({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config});
// ✅ Valid

// Step 2: Add features one by one
config.attachments = [...];
validate_node_operation({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config});

config.blocks = [...];
validate_node_operation({nodeType: "nodes-base.slack", config});

Pattern 2: Error Triage

Problem: Multiple errors

Solution:

const result = validate_node_operation({...});

// 1. Fix errors (must fix)
result.errors.forEach(error => {
  console.log(`MUST FIX: ${error.property} - ${error.message}`);
});

// 2. Review warnings (should fix)
result.warnings.forEach(warning => {
  console.log(`SHOULD FIX: ${warning.property} - ${warning.message}`);
});

// 3. Consider suggestions (optional)
result.suggestions.forEach(sug => {
  console.log(`OPTIONAL: ${sug.message}`);
});

Pattern 3: Use get_node_essentials

Problem: Don't know what's required

Solution:

// Before configuring, check requirements
const info = get_node_essentials({
  nodeType: "nodes-base.slack"
});

// Look for required fields
info.properties.forEach(prop => {
  if (prop.required) {
    console.log(`Required: ${prop.name} (${prop.type})`);
  }
});

---

Summary

Most Common Errors:

1. missing_required (45%) - Always check get_node_essentials
2. invalid_value (28%) - Check allowed values
3. type_mismatch (12%) - Use correct data types
4. invalid_expression (8%) - Use Expression Syntax skill
5. invalid_reference (5%) - Clean stale connections

Auto-Fixed:

• operator_structure - Trust auto-sanitization!

Related Skills:

• SKILL.md - Main validation guide
• FALSE_POSITIVES.md - When to ignore warnings
• n8n Expression Syntax - Fix expression errors
• n8n MCP Tools Expert - Use validation tools correctly