Protect downstream APIs with a circuit breaker using Data Tables

by Paulina Urbina ✓ · 2 views · created 2026-09-04 · DevOps

What this workflow does

This workflow has 16 nodes and runs when an HTTP POST request hits its webhook URL (plus 1 other trigger). It uses only n8n's built-in nodes.

How it runs

Trigger: When an HTTP POST request hits its webhook URL (plus 1 other trigger).

1. Normalize Check (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
2. Normalize Result (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
3. Configure Circuit Breaker (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
4. Route Circuit Request (Switch): routes items into 2 branches
5. Get Circuit for Check (Data table): get
6. Get Circuit for Result (Data table): get
7. Evaluate Circuit (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
8. Apply Service Result (Code): runs custom JavaScript code
9. Route Check Decision (Switch): routes items into 3 branches
10. Update Circuit State (Data table): update

…plus 4 more steps. See the full node list below.

Before you upgrade to n8n 3.0

Nodes used (4)

• Webhookn8n-nodes-base.webhook
• Coden8n-nodes-base.code
• Switchn8n-nodes-base.switch
• Data tablen8n-nodes-base.dataTable

From the author

Quick overview Stop n8n workflows from repeatedly calling an unavailable API by opening a circuit after consecutive failures, enforcing a cooldown, and allowing a controlled half-open recovery trial. How it works 1. Receives a POST request on the…

View the original on n8n.io → Check your own copy