Trigger nodes: how workflows start

Every workflow that runs on its own starts with a trigger node. Common ones:

• Manual Trigger ("When clicking Execute workflow"): only runs when you click. Good for building and one-off jobs.
• Schedule Trigger: runs on a timetable, such as every day at 8:00 or every 15 minutes. Check the time zone in the workflow settings.
• App triggers: many app nodes have a trigger version, such as "Gmail Trigger: on message received" or "Google Sheets Trigger: row added". Some are notified instantly by the app; others check for changes on a timer (called polling).
• n8n Form Trigger: n8n hosts a simple web form for you, and each submission starts the workflow.
• Chat Trigger: a chat window for talking to an AI agent (covered in the AI module).
• Webhook: a web address that any other system can call to start the workflow (its own lesson later).
• Error Trigger and Execute Workflow Trigger: special triggers for error handling and sub-workflows, covered later.

A workflow can have more than one trigger, for example a schedule plus a manual trigger for testing.

In n8n 2.x the old "Start" node no longer exists; use the Manual Trigger instead.

Important: most triggers only fire on their own after the workflow is published (made live, covered in a later lesson). While building, you start them by hand or use a "listen for test event" button.