N8n Syntax Credentials

n8n-syntax-credentials

Quick Reference

ICredentialType Interface

Credential Property Types

authenticate: 4 Injection Methods

ALL methods require type: 'generic' as the authenticate type.

Credential Expression Syntax

Access credential values inside authenticate using: ={{$credentials.fieldName}}

For header values with prefixes: '=Bearer {{$credentials.apiKey}}'

Critical Warnings

ALWAYS set typeOptions: { password: true } on sensitive fields (API keys, tokens, passwords) -- n8n masks these in the GUI and encrypts them at rest.

ALWAYS register credentials in package.json under the n8n.credentials array pointing to compiled .js files in dist/.

ALWAYS use type: 'generic' in the authenticate property -- no other type value is supported for the generic authenticate pattern.

ALWAYS provide a test property with a lightweight API endpoint to validate credentials during setup.

NEVER store credentials in plain text or workflow JSON -- n8n encrypts all credential data using an encryption key.

NEVER hardcode credential values in node code -- ALWAYS read them via this.getCredentials('credentialTypeName') in the node's execute method.

NEVER use authenticate AND manually inject credentials in the node's execute() method for the same credential -- pick one approach.

NEVER forget the = prefix in authenticate expressions -- '={{$credentials.key}}' is correct, '{{$credentials.key}}' silently passes a literal string.

Decision Tree: Which Authentication Pattern?

Need authentication?
├── API key in URL parameter?
│   └── Use authenticate.properties.qs
├── API key or token in header?
│   └── Use authenticate.properties.headers
├── Username + password (Basic Auth)?
│   └── Use authenticate.properties.auth
├── Credentials in request body?
│   └── Use authenticate.properties.body
├── OAuth2 flow?
│   └── Extend 'oAuth2Api' base credential
└── Complex/custom auth logic?
    └── Skip authenticate, handle in node execute() via this.getCredentials()

Essential Patterns

Pattern 1: API Key Credential (Header Injection)

import type { ICredentialType, INodeProperties, IAuthenticate } from 'n8n-workflow';

export class ExampleApi implements ICredentialType {
  name = 'exampleApi';
  displayName = 'Example API';
  documentationUrl = 'https://docs.example.com/auth';
  properties: INodeProperties[] = [
    {
      displayName: 'API Key',
      name: 'apiKey',
      type: 'string',
      typeOptions: { password: true },
      default: '',
    },
  ];
  authenticate: IAuthenticate = {
    type: 'generic',
    properties: {
      headers: {
        Authorization: '=Bearer {{$credentials.apiKey}}',
      },
    },
  };
  test: ICredentialTestRequest = {
    request: {
      baseURL: 'https://api.example.com',
      url: '/me',
    },
  };
}

Pattern 2: Query String Authentication

authenticate: IAuthenticate = {
  type: 'generic',
  properties: {
    qs: {
      api_key: '={{$credentials.apiKey}}',
    },
  },
};

Pattern 3: Basic Auth

export class MyBasicAuthApi implements ICredentialType {
  name = 'myBasicAuthApi';
  displayName = 'My Basic Auth API';
  properties: INodeProperties[] = [
    {
      displayName: 'Username',
      name: 'username',
      type: 'string',
      default: '',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Password',
      name: 'password',
      type: 'string',
      typeOptions: { password: true },
      default: '',
    },
  ];
  authenticate: IAuthenticate = {
    type: 'generic',
    properties: {
      auth: {
        username: '={{$credentials.username}}',
        password: '={{$credentials.password}}',
      },
    },
  };
}

Pattern 4: Body Injection

authenticate: IAuthenticate = {
  type: 'generic',
  properties: {
    body: {
      username: '={{$credentials.username}}',
      password: '={{$credentials.password}}',
    },
  },
};

Pattern 5: OAuth2 Credential

import type { ICredentialType, INodeProperties } from 'n8n-workflow';

export class MyServiceOAuth2Api implements ICredentialType {
  name = 'myServiceOAuth2Api';
  displayName = 'My Service OAuth2 API';
  extends = ['oAuth2Api'];
  documentationUrl = 'https://docs.myservice.com/oauth';
  properties: INodeProperties[] = [
    {
      displayName: 'Grant Type',
      name: 'grantType',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: 'authorizationCode',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Authorization URL',
      name: 'authUrl',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: 'https://myservice.com/oauth/authorize',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Access Token URL',
      name: 'accessTokenUrl',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: 'https://myservice.com/oauth/token',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Scope',
      name: 'scope',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: 'read write',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Auth URI Query Parameters',
      name: 'authQueryParameters',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: '',
    },
    {
      displayName: 'Authentication',
      name: 'authentication',
      type: 'hidden',
      default: 'body',
    },
  ];
}

Pattern 6: Credential Testing

test: ICredentialTestRequest = {
  request: {
    baseURL: '={{$credentials?.baseUrl}}',
    url: '/api/v1/verify',
    method: 'GET',
    skipSslCertificateValidation:
      '={{$credentials?.allowUnauthorizedCerts}}' as unknown as boolean,
  },
};

n8n calls this endpoint when users click "Test" in the credentials dialog. A 2xx response validates the credentials.

Pattern 7: Credential Registration (package.json)

{
  "name": "n8n-nodes-myservice",
  "n8n": {
    "n8nNodesApiVersion": 1,
    "credentials": [
      "dist/credentials/MyServiceApi.credentials.js",
      "dist/credentials/MyServiceOAuth2Api.credentials.js"
    ],
    "nodes": [
      "dist/nodes/MyService/MyService.node.js"
    ]
  }
}

Rule: The n8n.credentials array MUST point to compiled .js files in dist/, NEVER to .ts source files.

Pattern 8: Credential Inheritance (extends)

export class MyServiceApi implements ICredentialType {
  name = 'myServiceApi';
  displayName = 'My Service API';
  extends = ['oAuth2Api'];  // Inherits all OAuth2 properties
  properties: INodeProperties[] = [
    // Only define ADDITIONAL properties here
    // Base OAuth2 properties (clientId, clientSecret, etc.) are inherited
    {
      displayName: 'Region',
      name: 'region',
      type: 'options',
      options: [
        { name: 'US', value: 'us' },
        { name: 'EU', value: 'eu' },
      ],
      default: 'us',
    },
  ];
}

Pattern 9: Using Credentials in Node execute()

async execute(this: IExecuteFunctions): Promise<INodeExecutionData[][]> {
  const credentials = await this.getCredentials('exampleApi');
  // credentials.apiKey, credentials.baseUrl, etc.

  const response = await this.helpers.httpRequestWithAuthentication.call(
    this, 'exampleApi', {
      method: 'GET',
      url: `${credentials.baseUrl}/api/data`,
    }
  );

  return [this.helpers.returnJsonArray(response as IDataObject[])];
}

Rule: When using authenticate on the credential, use httpRequestWithAuthentication -- it automatically applies the authenticate configuration. When NOT using authenticate, manually inject credentials into request options.

Credential Node Binding

Link credentials to nodes via the credentials array in INodeTypeDescription:

credentials: [
  {
    name: 'myServiceApi',
    required: true,
  },
  {
    name: 'myServiceOAuth2Api',
    required: true,
    displayOptions: {
      show: { authentication: ['oAuth2'] },
    },
  },
],

Use displayOptions to conditionally show credentials based on an authentication method selector.

Reference Links

• references/methods.md -- ICredentialType interface, IAuthenticate, ICredentialTestRequest, property types
• references/examples.md -- API key credential, OAuth2 credential, basic auth, credential test
• references/anti-patterns.md -- Credential configuration mistakes

Official Sources

• https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/creating-nodes/build/reference/credentials-files/
• https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/creating-nodes/build/reference/ui-elements/
• https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/tree/master/packages/workflow/src
• https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n-nodes-starter