What Do the Curly Brackets in n8n Actually Do? (Expressions in 4 Minutes)

You open someone's n8n workflow and every field is full of curly brackets. Here's what they mean, in four minutes, in the real editor: Fixed vs Expression, drag-and-drop, $json, mixing text with data, small tweaks like upper case and maths, today's date with $now, and reaching back to an earlier node by name. Cheat sheet from the video: {{ $json.name }} the "name" from the item coming in Hi {{ $json.name }}! text and data together {{ $json.name.toUpperCase() }} a small tweak {{ $json.price * 1.2 }} maths {{ $json.plan === 'pro' ? 'Priority' : 'Standard' }} either-or {{ $now.toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd') }} today's date {{ $('Sample lead').item.json.email }} a value from an earlier node, by its name Chapters: 00:00 The bracket panic 00:19 Fixed vs Expression 00:51 Drag it in 01:23 Text and data together 01:40 Small tweaks and maths 02:31 Dates with $now 02:49 Reach back by name 03:12 The empty-preview check More Videos For You: Fix a workflow that only works in testing:    • Why Does Your n8n Workflow Work in Testing...   Choose between IF and Switch in n8n:    • n8n IF vs Switch Node: Which One Should Yo...   Set up free webhooks in n8n:    • How Do You Use Webhooks in n8n for Free? (...   Make n8n build your daily digest:    • How Do You Make n8n Send You a Daily Diges...   Get an alert when an n8n workflow fails:    • How Do You Know When Your n8n Workflow Fai...   #n8n #automation